LONDON, 21 May 2003 — Two international swimmers have been banned for four years after testing positive for drugs, while another was given a two-year ban for refusing a test, the sport’s governing body FINA said in a statement yesterday.
Syrian swimmer Mahmoud Jadaan tested positive for the anabolic steroid metenolone and will serve a four-year ban from February 2002. Iranian water polo player Reza Ojagh tested positive for nandrolone, also a steroid, and is suspended for four years from April 2002.
Dutch swimmer Linda van Herk was given a two-year ban, from December 2002, for refusing to take a test.
Thirty-Four Chinese Athletes
Fail Drug Tests in 2002
In Beijing, thirty-four athletes from China, the 2008 Olympic host, tested positive to drugs last year, 11 more than in 2001, state press reported yesterday. They included Liu Huyuan, one of the nation’s top men’s distance runners, and Lin Na, who won the women’s 800m and 1,500m titles at China’s 9th National Games in 2001, the Xinhua news agency said.
