China's long-distance running star Sun Yingjie failed the doping
test after the women's 10,000 meters race at the 10th National
Games and was stripped of her silver medal yesterday.
"Sun tested positive for the banned androsterone in the dope
test conducted after the women's 10,000m final on Monday night,"
announced Guo Jianjun, deputy secretary-general of the organizing
committee of the National Games. "Sun's result of the 10,000m was
nullified and she was prohibited from competing in the remaining
events of the Games."
It is the first positive doping case reported at the October
12-23 National Games.
During Monday's race, 26-year-old Sun clocked 31:03.09 to win
the silver medal in the women's 10,000 meters, losing to Xing Huina
of Shandong
Province in 31:00.73.
Sun of the Locomotive Sports Association was also originally
scheduled to compete again in the women's 5,000 meters on
Saturday.
Just one day prior to the 10,000 meters, Sun timed in 2:21:01
for her third consecutive victory in the annual Beijing
International Marathon last Sunday, which also categorized as the
marathon final of the National Games, but admitted to be exhausted
after the 42.195km race.
"It was a very hard race for me and I did not feel good," said
Sun right after the marathon. "I feel very tired and I'm not
satisfied with the result."
However, Sun was able to keep her marathon gold medal since she
passed the doping test for the Beijing event.
"Sun's urine sample taken after the Beijing International
Marathon returned negative results, so she can keep her title for
the marathon race," said Zhao Jian, vice director of Doping Control
Department of the National Games.
According to Zhao, the doping tests were all conducted at the
IOC-accredited laboratory in Beijing and the positive result was
reported within 48 hours in line with the doping control
regulations of the National Games.
The Chinese Athletics Association (CAA), the governing body of
China's track and field, expressed their agreement of the
punishment delivered to Sun, who is one of the world's top
long-distance runners.
"We firmly support the penalty that was issued by the organizing
committee," said Luo Chaoyi, vice president of CAA. "We will issue
further punishment to Sun and others involved following a detailed
investigation. CAA will adhere to fighting the use of performance
enhancing drugs. No matter who violates the anti-doping rules,
severe punishments will be issued."
Sun won the bronze medal in the women's 10,000m at the World
Athletics Championships in 2003 and claimed gold medals in three
successive Beijing International Marathons since.
Sun and her coach Wang Dexian testified that they were
innocent.
"It is a heavy blow for me and I feel very terrible," said Sun.
"I cannot understand why the tests produced such different results
since they were taken only two days apart. I cannot believe it and
I will request a secondary test on the sample B."
According to resources from website reports, her coach Wang also
considered Sun to be a victim.
"While Sun was warming-up before the 10,000m race, she was asked
for a signature and drank some water that was passed to her, which
was very careless," said Wang. "We want further investigation and
we will appeal since we are innocent."
As confirmed by Zhao yesterday afternoon, Sun has appealed
verbally to the organizing committee for a test on sample B.
"A verbal appeal is not enough, and we require a formal
application," said Zhao. "It has not yet been decided as to when
sample B will be tested."
(China Daily October 22, 2005)
