IOC sanctions three athletes for failing anti-doping tests at London 2012

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. The IOC is currently conducting additional analyses on the samples collected from the Olympic Games London 2012. This programme, which uses the latest scientific analysis methods, aims to test samples for all substances prohibited in 2012.

As the International Testing Agency (ITA) is now operational, the IOC has delegated the selection of samples to be reanalysed and the results management to the ITA, which will therefore review all the test results and notify the athletes concerned.

The notification gives them the choice to have their case heard before the CAS or before an IOC Disciplinary Commission. This choice is given as the Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) for the Olympic Games London 2012 still apply for cases that arise from the current reanalyses.

As part of this process, the IOC today announced that three athletes have been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. The details follow.

Valentin HRISTOV, 34, of Azerbaijan, competing in the Men’s 56kg Weightlifting event (Qualifications and Finals) in which he ranked 3rd and was awarded the bronze medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Hristov’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (oralturinabol). 

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

I. The Athlete, Valentin Hristov:

1. is found to to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence and/or use, of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
2. is disqualified from the events in which he participated upon the occasion of the 2012 Olympic Games, namely, the Men’s 56kg Weightlifting event, and
3. has the medal, diploma, and pin obtained in the Men’s 56kg Weightlifting event withdrawn and is ordered to return them.

II. The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.

III. The National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan shall ensure full implementation of this decision.

IV. The decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Alena MATOSHKA, 36, of Belarus, competing in the Women’s Hammer Throw event (Qualifications) in which she ranked 25th overall, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Matoshka’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance Oxandrolone. 

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

I. The Athlete, Alena Matoshka:

1. is found to to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence and/or use, of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen), and

2. is disqualified from the events in which she participated upon the occasion of the 2012 Olympic Games, namely, the Women’s Hammer Throw event.

II. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.

III.The National Olympic Committee of Belarus shall ensure full implementation of this decision.

IV. The decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Anis ANANENKA, 33, of Belarus, competing in Round 1 of the Men’s 800m, finishing 43rd overall, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Ananenka’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (oralturinabol). 

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

I. The Athlete, Anis Ananenka:

1. is found to to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence and/or use, of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen), and
2. is disqualified from the events in which he participated upon the occasion of the 2012 Olympic Games, namely, the Men’s 800m event.

II. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.

III. The National Olympic Committee of Belarus shall ensure full implementation of this decision.

IV. The decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

The reanalysis programme for the samples from the Olympic Games London 2012 will continue in 2019 before the statute of limitations is reached by 2020*.

This is part of the IOC’s efforts to protect clean athletes and the integrity of the competition. The IOC has been storing samples from the Olympic Games since Athens 2004, and has reanalysed them systematically. The fight against doping is a top priority for the IOC, which has established a zero-tolerance policy to combat cheating and to make anyone responsible for using or providing doping products accountable.

* Please note that, for legal reasons, the IOC will not give detailed information on possible cases. This would follow in due course.

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