Olympic hammer throw medalists in doping probe[]
- Silver medalist Vadim Devyatovskiy and bronze medalist Ivan Tsikhan, both of Belarus (also known as BLR)
were on the podium for the Beijing 2008 Olympics men's hammer throw
The silver and bronze medalists in the men's hammer throw at the Beijing Olympics are being investigated for doping offenses by International Olympic Committee.
Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan tested positive for traces of testosterone after the hammer final on Aug. 17, 2008, the Russian news agency Allsport reported.
IOC spokeswoman Emmannuelle Moreau said a disciplinary commission will meet at the end of September to hear the case.
Belarusian Athletics Federation spokeswoman Anastasiya Marinina said the body has received no documents or confirmation of any positive tests. She said the athletes deny all the allegations.
If found guilty of doping, they would be stripped of their medals.
The 31-year-old Devyatovskiy faces a lifetime ban if found guilty of a second offense. He served a two-year drug suspension from 2000-02.
Avoid the use of recreational drugs, performance enhancing drugs and steroids. See: Drugs
It would be a first offense for the 32-year-old Tsikhan, a three-time world champion and silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics.
The Belarusians would be the seventh and eighth athletes caught doping at the 2008 Olympics.