IOC sanctions two athletes for failing anti-doping tests at Beijing 2008

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

Yarelys BARRIOS, 33, of Cuba, competing in athletics (discus throw event), has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, in which she ranked second, and for which she was awarded the silver medal. Reanalysis of Barrios’ samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance acetazolamide (diuretic and masking agent).

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

1. The Athlete, Yarelys BARRIOS:

   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 of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),

   2. is disqualified from the discus event in which she placed second upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.

   3. has the silver medal, the diploma, and the medallist pin obtained in the discus throw event withdrawn and is ordered to return these.

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 Olímpico Cubano shall ensure full implementation of this decision.

4. The Comité Olímpico Cubano 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 discus throw event to the Athlete.

5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Samuel Adelebari FRANCIS, 29, of Qatar, competing in athletics in the 100m event, in which he ranked 16th, and the 200m event in which he did not start, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Reanalysis of Francis’ samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance stanozolol.

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

1. The Athlete, Samuel Adelebari FRANCIS:

   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 100m event and the 200m event.

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

3. The Qatar Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.

4. This decision enters into force immediately.