IOC Sanctions 9 Athletes for Failing Anti-Doping Test at Beijing 2008

The protection of clean athletes and the fight against doping are top priorities for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement. To provide a level playing field for all clean athletes at the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the IOC put special measures in place, including targeted pre-tests and the re-analysis of stored samples from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and London 2012, following an intelligence-gathering process that started in August 2015.

As part of this process, the IOC today announced that nine athletes have been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. The details follow.

Sardar HASANOV, 31, of Azerbaijan, competing in the men’s 62kg weightlifting event, in which he did not finish, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Hasanov’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Sardar Hasanov:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the men’s 62kg weightlifting event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
2. The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The National Olympic Committee of the Azerbaijani Republic shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Wilfredo MARTINEZ, 31, of Cuba, competing in the men’s long jump event (qualification and final) in which he ranked 5th and for which he was awarded a diploma, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Martinez’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance acetazolamide.

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Wilfredo Martinez:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from all the events in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, namely the men’s long jump event,
   3. has the diploma obtained in the men’s long jump event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
2. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The Comité Olimpico Cubano shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. The Comité Olimpico Cubano shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the diploma awarded in connection with the men’s long jump event to the Athlete.
5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Josephine Nnkiruka ONYIA, 30, of Spain, competing in the women’s 100m hurdles event (round 1 and semi-final) in which she ranked 9th, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Onyia’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance methylhexanamine.

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Josephine Nnkiruka Onyia:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the women’s 100m hurdles event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
   3. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly.
2. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Soslan TIGIEV, 33, of Uzbekistan, competing in the men’s 66-74kg freestyle wrestling event in which he ranked 2nd and for which he was awarded a silver medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Tigiev’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Soslan Tigiev:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the men’s 66-74kg freestyle wrestling event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008,
   3. has the medal, the medallist pin and diploma obtained in the men’s 66-74kg freestyle wrestling event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
2. The UWW is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the men’s 66-74kg freestyle wrestling event to the Athlete.
5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Ekaterina VOLKOVA, 38, of Russia, competing in the women’s 3000m steeplechase event (round 1 and final) in which she ranked 3rd and for which she was awarded a bronze medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Volkova’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Ekaterina Volkova:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the women’s 3000m steeplechase event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008,
   3. has the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the women’s 3000m steeplechase event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
2. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The Russian Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. The Russian Olympic Committee shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the women’s 3000m steeplechase event to the Athlete.
5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Olha KOROBKA, 30, of Ukraine, competing in the women’s +75kg weightlifting event in which she ranked 2nd and for which she was awarded a silver medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Korobka’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Olha Korobka:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the women’s +75kg weightlifting event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008,
   3. has the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the women’s 75kg weightlifting event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
2. The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the women’s +75kg weightlifting event.
5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Nastassia NOVIKAVA, 34, of Belarus, competing in the women’s 53kg weightlifting event in which she ranked 3rd and for which she was awarded a bronze medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Novikava’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substances dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol) and stanozolol.

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Nastassia Novikava:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the women’s 53kg weightlifting event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008,
   3. has the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the women’s 53kg weightlifting event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
2. The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the women’s 53kg weightlifting event.
5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Andrei RYBAKOU, 34, of Belarus, competing in the men’s 85kg weightlifting event in which he ranked 2nd and for which he was awarded a silver medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Rybakou’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substances stanozolol and dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Andrei Rybakou:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the men’s 85kg weightlifting event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008,
   3. has the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the men’s 85kg weightlifting event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
2. The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the men’s 85kg weightlifting event.
5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Taimuraz TIGIYEV, 34, of Kazakhstan, competing in the men’s 84-96kg freestyle wrestling event (1/8 final, 1/4 final, semi-final and final) in which he ranked 2nd and for which he was awarded a silver medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Re-analysis of Tigiyev’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Mr Denis Oswald (Chairman), Mrs Gunilla Lindberg and Mr Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

1. The Athlete, Taimuraz Tigiyev:
   1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
   2. is disqualified from the men’s 84-96kg freestyle wrestling event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008,
   3. has the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained in the men’s 84-96kg freestyle wrestling event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
2. The UWW is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
4. The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the men’s 84-96kg freestyle wrestling event.
5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

The additional analyses on samples collected during the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 and London 2012 were performed with improved analytical methods, in order to possibly detect prohibited substances that could not be identified by the analysis performed at the time of these editions of the Olympic Games.

News courtesy of IOC.