Reanalysis of 2012 Olympics urine samples see five weightlifters getting banned
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As many as five weightlifters have been provisionally suspended from practising their trade after a reanalysis of urine samples during the 2012 London Olympics were reconducted. Among the weightlifters in danger of losing medals include Ukrainian Oleksiy Torokhtiy and Azerbaijan’s Valentin Hristov.
Amongst the suspended five weightlifters include two Olympic champions, Torokhtiy and Ruslan Nurudinov as was announced by the International Weightlifting Federation on Monday. While Torokhtiy won the gold medal in the 105 kg category in 2012, Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Nurudinov had won the same category two years back in Rio de Janeiro Games, both tested positive for anabolic steroids.
However, given the samples were retested after four years before Nurudinov won the gold in Brazil, only Torokhtiy would be losing his title. He could be joined by Azerbaijan’s Valentin Hristov. Serving an eight-year ban after coming positive in tests of 2013 and 2015, Hristov could lose his 2012 bronze medal from the 56kg category after he was tested positive for an anabolic agent.
Apart from them, Armenia's Meline Daluzyan and Belarusian Mikalai Novikau have also tested positive although they did not win any medals in London. It was only last month when the International Olympic Committee had announced that reanalysis of samples from the 2012 Games implementing the “most recent scientific methods" that has now been entrusted with newly-formed International Testing Agency.
