|
Tsoumeleka tests positive, retires from track
By HellenicAthletes Staff
| Saturday, January 17 2009 5:23:51 PM |
| |
|
|
Athanasia Tsoumeleka, the 20-kilometer walk gold medallist from the 2004 Athens Games, has tested positive for the banned blood-booster drug EPO, in a retesting of a sample she provided two days before the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.
| She has announced her retirement from the sport.
Greece’s state television, NET, reported the story on Saturday. A report on the "To BHMA Online" website states the drug was CERA, a newer version of the endurance-enhancing hormone EPO.
Tsoumeleka finished ninth in Beijing in the 20k walk event in a personal best of 1 hour, 27 minutes, 54 seconds. She was almost 3½ minutes behind winner Olga Kaniskina of Russia.
In 2004, Tsoumeleka won Athens gold in 1 hour, 29 minutes, 12 seconds.
In a statement, the 27-year-old athlete confirmed she was told that a retesting of her urine sample had come back positive for EPO.
|
|
Athanasia Tsoumeleka (AFP)
|
But she expressed doubts about the second procedure.
“I was informed that a positive sample (EPO) from a doping test at 6 August 2008, was found in my body. I will not try to find an excuse for that, but I'm certain that I have never taken any drugs with my knowledge, because I have accepted the fact that I am responsible for anything found in my body. The fact that the samples are re-examined without my presence (the sample came back negative at first instance) brings me unpleasant feelings about this whole procedure. I am really not interested whether in six months time they tell me that the sample is actually negative, like it was the first time. I am very unhappy about the situation with doping use worldwide. I do not want to take part in competition like this anymore."
Tsoumeleka, an asthma-sufferer, had expressed concern prior to Beijing that a potent mix of pollution, humidity and heat would hamper performances at the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee said in October that it would recheck about 400 Beijing blood and urine samples to look for CERA, after a new blood test was developed by the French Anti-Doping Agency. The test was used to catch four riders from the Tour de France.
The president of the Greek Athletics Association, Vassilis Sevastis, told the Athens News Agency that he did not have any comment to make and that "the athlete's statement says it all."
Related from 2007: Discussion with Athanasia Tsoumeleka
*****
© 2009 HellenicAthletes.com.
All Rights Reserved.
This article may NOT be reproduced without the expressed, written permission of the editor, in accordance with United States and international copyright laws. Selective quotations are permissible as long as this website is acknowledged through hyperlink to: www.hellenicathletes.com
|
|
