20 Positive tests, including medal winners, were among the retested doping samples from weightlifters taken at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, said the International Weightlifting Federation Monday.
In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the IWF said it was informed by the International Olympic Committee of 10 cases from the 2008 Beijing Games and 10 from the 2012 London Games.
The tests from London were described as confirmed positive tests, while the Beijing tests were “presumed” to be positive but still require B sample analyses.
The IWF said the cases did include medal winners, but did not release any names or nationalities.
The federation said it would “proceed to the provisional suspension of the athletes as soon as the IOC procedures (are) concluded.”
The 20 cases account for a large part of the 55 total positives which the IOC has reported so far, including 32 from Beijing and 23 from London. The IOC is retesting samples to catch cheats who might be competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.
Also of note, Kazakhstan’s Olympic Committee said their athletes recorded five positive tests from retested samples taken in Beijing and London, and had sent representatives to Switzerland to attend the analysis of the B samples. Athletes and the sports in which they compete were not released, but Kazakhstan has a history of facing doping scandals from their weightlifters and cyclists in particular.
The Russian Olympic Committee announced two of their athletes’ B sample tests came back negative. They belonged to Denis Nizhegorodov (race walking) and Alexander Kornilov (rowing).
It remains unknown whether or not any of the positive re-tests from Beijing and London are swimmers, but with the numbers dwindling down expect it to be reported sooner than later where the rest of the positive tests have come from.
Find the report from Global News here.
