IOC Sanctions Russian Athlete for Failing Anti-Doping Test in 2008 Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Thursday it was sanctioning Russian athlete Anna Chicherova for failing an anti-doping re-test at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – IOC noted that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) had to ensure full implementation of the decision.

"Anna CHICHEROVA, 34, of the Russian Federation, competing in the women’s high jump event, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, in which she ranked third and was awarded the bronze medal. Re-analysis of Chicherova’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol)," an IOC press release said.

"The Russian Olympic Committee shall in particular secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the women’s high jump event to the Athlete," IOC stressed.

The organization added that the re-test had been carried out with improved analytical methods to detect prohibited substances.