IOC complete retesting of Vancouver 2010 samples

LAUSANNE: Re-analysis of urine samples taken from the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics has been completed, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Monday, with just one athlete found to have possibly taken banned substances.

Of the 1,710 urine samples taken in Vancouver, 1,195 (70%) were analysed, “including all those from medallists and Russian athletes“, the IOC said.

Only three samples showed adverse analytical findings and all were from the same athlete, who has not been named.

The IOC said no decision had yet been taken on whether the athlete would be charged with an anti-doping violation, though.

“This wide ranging re-analysis is another demonstration of the IOC’s commitment to fight against doping and to protect clean athletes,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

Re-analysis of samples taken from the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics continues, including on all 254 urine samples given by Russian athletes.

The decision to re-analyse those samples came as a result of the McLaren Report which alleged systematic state sponsored doping by Russia and identified sample manipulation during the Sochi Games.

Re-analysis programmes have also been undertaken for the Summer Games.

More than 1,000 samples have been re-tested from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games, revealing 106 positive results and seeing 75 medals redistributed.

Re-analysis of the Beijing samples has been completed with London still ongoing.

Russia has been the country hardest hit with 37 positive tests. Belarus is second with 16. AFP