LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Officials familiar with the plans tell the Associated Press that the IOC is set to remove itself from the handling of positive drug tests during the Olympics and will have a group of independent sports arbitrators rule on doping cases during the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Three officials told the AP the change is expected to be approved by the International Olympic Committee’s executive board Monday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan had not yet been formally adopted.
The move is intended to make the prosecution of doping cases more independent by taking it away from the IOC and putting it in the hands of a special panel of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Under current rules, Olympic doping cases are dealt with by a special IOC disciplinary panel appointed by the IOC president.
Swede Aregawi fails test
World indoor 1,500m champion Abeba Aregawi has been banned from Swedish athletics after she tested positive for an unspecified banned substance, the national federation said Monday.
The suspension means the Ethiopian-born runner’s place in the Swedish team for the Rio Olympics in August is now in doubt.
Local media reported the positive check on her A sample was taken in Addis Adaba earlier this year and that Aregawi has asked for her B sample to be tested.
The Swedish Olympic Committee (SOC) moved swiftly to withdraw its financial support for Aregawi and she is highly unlikely to be part of the Rio Games team.
Having run for Ethiopia at the 2012 London Games, Aregawi began competing for Sweden later that year after being granted citizenship. She won the world outdoor 1,500 title in 2013.
9 under investigation in Ethiopia
Nine Ethiopian runners, five of them “top athletes,” are under investigation for doping, the general secretary of the country’s anti-doping agency said Monday, raising fears of another damaging scandal for track and field in the run-up to the Rio Olympics.
Solomon Meaza told the Associated Press that the Ethiopian Anti-Doping Agency is investigating the five athletes he described as high-profile after they returned “suspicious” results in tests.
“To be clear, some banned (substances) were found in the five athletes,” he said. “They will be summoned and asked if they have taken any banned substances (or) chemicals.”
Solomon declined to name the athletes, give details of the substances they are suspected of using, or say when tests were carried out as investigations are ongoing.
He stressed that more tests were needed to establish any guilt.
But he said: “There is a real concern when the upcoming investigations arrive.” — Agencies
