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CONI reports Beijing positive

by Charles Pelkey

• April 28, 2009
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Retest shows seven CERA positives from six athletes

By Charles Pelkey

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) announced Tuesday it has learned that one of that country’s athletes tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance at last summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

According to a news release issued Tuesday, CONI was informed of a positive A sample and has notified the athlete of the result. Under the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code, he or she has the option to ask that his B sample be tested to confirm the result.

News of the result was sent to CONI following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to re-test 948 samples from the Games. According to the IOC, 948 samples were subjected to further analysis using tests for Insulin Growth Factor and for the new generation of EPO, known as CERA.

According to the IOC, none of the samples tested positive for IGF, but seven samples, submitted by six different athletes, tested positive for CERA.

“The further analysis of the Beijing samples that we conducted should send a clear message that cheats can never assume that they have avoided detection,” said Arne Ljungqvist, Chairman of the IOC Medical Commission. “The vast majority of athletes do not seek an unfair advantage. We intend to do all we can to ensure that they have a fair environment for competition.”