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Ukraine's heptathlon silver medalist Blonska fails drug test
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-08-20 20:23
BEIJING--Ukraine's Liudmyla Blonska has tested positive for banned substances at the Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday.
Ukraine's Liudmyla Blonska relaxes during the women's shot put of the heptathlon at the National Stadium as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 15, 2008. [Agencies]
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"The IOC is looking into the matter and the IOC disciplinary commission will hold a meeting tomorrow (on Thursday)," IOC spokeswoman Sandrine Tonge told Xinhua.
Tonge added that any decision regarding possible penalty on Blonska should be taken by the IOC executive board.
IAAF president Lamine Diack also confirmed the case.
"I have just been informed that there has been a positive case. This athlete has tested positive," Diack told a press conference.
But it was unclear for which substance the 29-year-old Ukrainian tested positive.
Blonska finished second in the women's heptathlon behind compatriot Natalya Dobrynska on Saturday.
Blonska, who served a doping suspension between 2003-05, could be stripped of the medal and banned for life if the IOC rules she has committed a second offence.
Four athletes have been kicked out of the August 8-24 games so far over doping offence. They are Greek hurdler Fani Halkia, DPR Korean shooter Kim Jong Su, Spanish cyclist Isabel Moreno and Vietnamese gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do.
Earlier Wednesday, IOC director of communications Giselle Davies said a total of 4,133 tests had been conducted so far, including more than 3,290 urine controls and 840 blood controls.
IOC president Jacques Rogge has announced that 4,500 tests would be carried out during the Games, up from 3,600 in Athens four years ago.
