Athletes fail re-tests from Rio 2016

Seven who competed at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, including one bronze medallist, have tested positive for banned substances in new analysis of their samples, the International Testing Agency announced on Thursday.

Among those affected are Lithuanian weightlifter Aurimas Didzbalis, who won bronze in Rio, and Bulgarian sprinter Ivet Lalova, who finished eighth in the women’s 200 meters. “The majority of these positive re-analysis results are mainly due to technical advances,” the ITA said, referring to more sensitive methods for detecting steroid traces.

Olympic samples are preserved for up to 10 years after the Games, allowing them to be retested as doping detection technology evolves.

Four of the positive results involved the anabolic steroid danabol, including Didzbalis, while two were linked to oral turinabol, the steroid infamously used in East Germany’s state-sponsored doping programme. Lalova tested positive for ostarine, a substance with steroid-like effects.

Didzbalis, who earned bronze in the men’s 94-kilogram weightlifting category, could face disqualification by the International Olympic Committee and the loss of his medal. The athlete who finished fourth in that event was Sarat Sumpradit of Thailand. This was not Didzbalis’ first doping offense; he had previously tested positive prior to the 2012 London Olympics and at the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, California.

Lalova’s advancement to the women’s 200 meters final prevented Ella Nelson of Australia from reaching the medal race. Nelson had finished third in the semifinal and was the fastest non-qualifier, marking her only Olympic appearance. Lalova had also narrowly missed medals in both the 100 and 200 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The recent doping cases encompass four weightlifters and one athlete each in judo, wrestling, and track and field. “The athletes will also be provisionally suspended by their respective international federation,” the ITA said. The seven athletes represent Egypt (two), Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Uzbekistan. “These new positive cases bring the re-analysis program for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 to near completion,” the ITA said, noting that the total number of cases now stands at 10.-insidethegames

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