Taiwanese weightlifter Hsu Shu-ching (許淑淨) might be named the 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 53kg category after the titleholder, Kazakh weightlifter Zulfiya Chinshanlo, failed a drug test.
The International Weightlifting Federation yesterday announced on its official Web site that samples taken from Chinshanlo as well as nine other weightlifters from Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine competing in the 2012 London Olympics were reanalyzed.
The analysis generated “adverse analytical findings,” the federation said.
Photo: Liao Yu-wei, Taipei Times
The federation also said in a statement that it imposed mandatory provisional suspensions on the athletes for potentially violating anti-doping rules, adding that they would remain suspended until their cases are closed.
The federation said that it would report the standings of the athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics after it finishes retesting their samples.
Hsu, who won silver in the 53kg category, is likely to claim the spot of gold medalist if Chinshanlo is disqualified.
The Chinese Taipei Weightlifting Association and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee said that they have yet to receive an official document from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Nothing can be done until they see the confirmation from the IOC, they said.
“Many athletes tested positive at drug tests, but they filed appeals by arguing that the medications were administered by doctors or taken while they were ill,” Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee secretary-general Shen Yi-ting (沈依婷) said. “It depends on whether the IOC accepts their explanations. So far, we have not received any notification informing us if the opponent has been suspended or [Hsu] is to be given the gold medal.”
Shen said that it might not be long before the IOC issues its final ruling on the athletes, as it would not want any of the suspected athletes to compete at the Rio Olympics in August.
Hsu is going through intensive training for the Rio Olympics and has treated Chinshanlo as one of her rivals, Shen said.
However, she might not have to confront the Kazakh weightlifter if the latter’s cases are not closed by the time the Olympic Games start, Shen added.
The Sports Administration said that the National Honor Prize program rewards Olympic gold medalists with a NT$12 million (US$370,473) prize, adding that silver medalists are rewarded with NT$7 million.
The administration would pay Hsu the additional NT$5 million if it is ascertained that she is the 2012 Olympic gold medalist.
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