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Australian weightlifter refused test, says drug agency
.c The Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - The Australian Weightlifting Federation said
Wednesday it will investigate reports from the Australian Sports Drug
Agency that an unidentified lifter had refused to take a drug test.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to hear the case next
week, weightlifting officials said. Australia's Olympic weightlifting
team is due to be named on Friday.
``There is an incident that is causing us some concern which is being
looked at right now,'' said federation president Sam Coffa, who would
only identify the athlete as being a federation member.
The average penalty for such an offense is a two-year ban.
Coffa said that once the investigation is complete, the findings would
be made public.
``Innuendoes and rumors have a life of their own and they develop
legs. Somebody will say something and somebody will say something
else, and I believe it's unhealthy,'' Coffa said.
Caroline Pileggi and Armenian-born Sergo Chakhoyan are expected to be
named as the only two weightlifters on the Australian team.
Pileggi, lifting in the over-75 kilogram class, is expected to be the
sole Australian women's representative.
Chakhoyan, who is in the 85-kilogram class, was handed a two-year
suspension in 2001 for using steroids.
In June, Australian weightlifter Anthony Martin received a two-year
ban for testing positive to banned substances. Commonwealth Games
bronze medal winner Seen Lee will appeal a two-year ban for testing
positive in May to the diuretic furosemide.
07/07/04 05:41 EDT
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
.c The Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - The Australian Weightlifting Federation said
Wednesday it will investigate reports from the Australian Sports Drug
Agency that an unidentified lifter had refused to take a drug test.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to hear the case next
week, weightlifting officials said. Australia's Olympic weightlifting
team is due to be named on Friday.
``There is an incident that is causing us some concern which is being
looked at right now,'' said federation president Sam Coffa, who would
only identify the athlete as being a federation member.
The average penalty for such an offense is a two-year ban.
Coffa said that once the investigation is complete, the findings would
be made public.
``Innuendoes and rumors have a life of their own and they develop
legs. Somebody will say something and somebody will say something
else, and I believe it's unhealthy,'' Coffa said.
Caroline Pileggi and Armenian-born Sergo Chakhoyan are expected to be
named as the only two weightlifters on the Australian team.
Pileggi, lifting in the over-75 kilogram class, is expected to be the
sole Australian women's representative.
Chakhoyan, who is in the 85-kilogram class, was handed a two-year
suspension in 2001 for using steroids.
In June, Australian weightlifter Anthony Martin received a two-year
ban for testing positive to banned substances. Commonwealth Games
bronze medal winner Seen Lee will appeal a two-year ban for testing
positive in May to the diuretic furosemide.
07/07/04 05:41 EDT
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress