THE OLYMPICS

Olympic Swimmer, Cyclist Disqualified After Positive Drug Tests

A weightlifter became the first competitor to be stripped of a medal because of doping

A Chinese swimmer and a Brazilian road cyclist were disqualified from Olympic competition in Rio de Janeiro after positive drug tests, officials said Thursday.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport issued final verdicts Thursday in the cases of swimmer Chen Xinyi and cyclist Kleber Ramos.

The 18-year-old Chen, who finished fourth in the 100-meter butterfly, had previously accepted a "provisional suspension" after testing positive for a diuretic. She pulled out of her final event, the 50-meter freestyle.

After a hearing was held in the case, the court said she had been formally disqualified and her fourth-place result annulled. The international swimming federation, FINA, was asked to consider any further sanctions.

Ramos, meanwhile, tested positive for the blood-booster EPO in a pre-games test on July 31. He had accepted a provisional suspension "on a voluntary basis" and did not request a hearing.

The court said he has now been disqualified and kicked out of the games. His case was referred to the international cycling body, which could impose a two-year ban.

Ramos competed in the men's Olympic road race on Aug. 6 but failed to finish.

Earlier Thursday a male weightlifter from Kyrgyzstan became the first athlete to be stripped of a medal at the Rio Games after a positive doping test. Izzat Artykov tested positive for strychnine after winning the bronze medal in the 69-kilogram division, according to the The Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The court referred the case to the international weightlifting federation for possible further sanctions against Artykov, who could face a two-year ban from the sport.

Two other athletes were sanctioned for doping last week. Polish weightlifter Tomasz Zielinksi and Bulgarian steeplechaser Silvia Danekova were expelled from the games after testing positive for banned substances.

Zielinski, who was scheduled to compete in the 94-kilogram division, tested positive for the steroid 19-Norandrosterone, while Danekova tested positive for EPO, a blood-boosting hormone that aids stamina and endurance.

Both were excluded from the games and stripped of their Olympic accreditation. Their cases were handed over to their international federations for possible further sanctions. Both could face two-year bans.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is handling doping cases at the Olympics for the first time. The International Olympic Committee handed over responsibility to the court to try to make the process more independent.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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