Powerlifter banned for 2 years
2008-09-09 10:23
Beijing - A Pakistani powerlifter has been banned for two years after failing a doping test - the first athlete to test positive for the Beijing Paralympics.
Naveed Ahmed Butt tested positive for the steroid methandienone metabolites, the International Paralympic Committee said in a statement on Tuesday .
The urine sample was taken on Sept. 4, two days before the opening ceremony.
"In accordance with the IPC anti-doping code, and after a hearing of the IPC anti-doping committee, the IPC ratified the decision to disqualify Butt from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games," the statement said, adding that a two-year ban had been imposed.
Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC's medical and scientific director, said Butt's accreditation was also being cancelled.
The IPC has said it plans about 1 000 in- and out-of-competition tests on both blood and urine.
- AP