Spanish cyclist Maria Isobel Moreno became the first athlete to fail a doping test at the Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee [IOC] revealed yesterday.
The 27-year-old tested positive for EPO having undergone the test on July 31.
She left the athletes’ village on the evening of the 31st before she knew of the results of the test.
Giselle Davies, IOC spokeswoman, announced Moreno’s positive test.
“The IOC means business in stamping out doping,” she said. “The test of the athlete revealed that she had tested positive for EPO.”
“Moreno left China the evening of the test, before she knew of the results,” Davis said.
“Her accreditation has been cancelled and withdrawn by the IOC. We have asked the sport’s governing body, the International Cycling Union to follow it up as any disciplinary measures will be complete after the Games finish,” she said.
Moreno had been considered one of Spain’s best hopes for a women’s cycling medal, in the road race.
In a statement on Saturday, the cyclist apologized to the Spanish public and said whe would “explain and defend” her reasons for dropping out of the women’s road race and the time trial at a press conference yesterday in the Spanish city of Zaragoza.
Moreno had announced on Thursday she would not be taking part in the Games after what has been described in the Spanish media as an “anxiety attack.”
The technical director of the Spanish cycling federation, Mikel Zabala, has said that Moreno’s decision was “personal.”
IOC President Jacques Rogge had said on the eve of the Games that he expected there to be between 30-40 positive tests at the Games.
“Of course it’s a blow for cycling,” the president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), Pat McQuaid said.
“And it’s a Spanish rider, which shows that we have a problem in Spain. It’s time that Spanish authorities start to do something concretely. For years, they have not been tough enough on doping and this is the result of their leniency,” he said.
Spanish cyclists had apparently been targeted for controls by the IOC with the whole team tested three times before the competition started.
Spanish sports officials described the scandal as “sad” but stressed they were convinced it was an isolated case.
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