IOC sanctions rower and weightlifter for violating anti-doping rules
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that rower Olena Olefirenko from Ukraine and weightlifter Zoltan Kovacs from Hungary have committed anti-doping rules violations at the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens in 2004.
Positive for ethamivan
Olena Olefirenko, 26, tested positive on 22 August for Ethamivan, a prohibited stimulant, after placing third in the Women's quadruple sculls event. During the hearing, the Disciplinary Commission noted that, on the Doping Control Official Record filled out by the athlete at the time of the collection, one of the medications declared by the athlete, Instenon, contains the prohibited substance, Ethamivan, found in her urine. The delegation declared that the medications were given to the athlete by the team doctor Ganna Gryshchenko. The IOC has a policy of strict liability with respect to disqualification from the event in which she participated.
Disqualification
The IOC Executive Board further decided
The IOC Executive Board also decided that the International Rowing Federation be requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence; that the Ukraine Olympic Committee be ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the medals and diplomas awarded to the athletes in relation to the above-noted event; that the International Rowing Federation consider possible action against Ms Ganna Gryshchenko; that the Ukraine Olympic Committee consider possible action against Ms Ganna Gryshchenko; and that the IOC reserves the right to open a new procedure in front of the IOC with respect to any participation of Ms Ganna Gryshchenko in the 2006 or 2008 Olympic Games.
Refused to provide a urine sample
Hungarian weightlifter Zoltan Kovacs, 27, refused on 23 August to provide a urine sample after competing in the men's 105kg weightlifting event, from which he retired due to an injury. According to Article 2.3 of the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, 'refusing, or failing without compelling justification, to submit to sample collection after notification' is an anti-doping rule violation.
Disqualified
So far 2 303 tests
So far, 2302 tests have been performed out of the 3000 tests that the IOC is expected to conduct throughout the period of the Games.