Paralympics: Positive drugs tests emerge at Games

SYDNEY - A number of athletes at the Sydney Paralympic Games have returned positive out-of-competition drug tests and have been suspended from competing until further tests are completed, officials said on Friday.

"Some of the tests came back positive," International Paralympics Committee (IPC) president Robert Steadward told a news conference on the second day of the Paralympic Games.

Steadward said he would not reveal how many athletes, sports or countries were involved until a second set of drug test results were completed.

"Once we have those results we will have an absolute open and full disclosure of the athletes, their sports, their events and their country," he said.

"Until that time we're not in a position to give that kind of detailed information, to protect the interests of the countries and the athletes involved. But we do have a few positive tests."

The Australian newspaper reported on Friday that up to six Paralympic athletes had tested positive to performance enhancing drugs, saying it was believed some of results involved steroids.

Steadward said under Paralympic rules if an athlete's urine A sample tested positive, then a B sample was also tested.

He said the results of the B samples may not be available until Saturday and the Paralympic athletes in question have been suspended from competition pending those results.

At the Sydney Olympics last month athletes could be banned on the strength of a positive A sample.

Eleven positive drug tests were reported by the International Olympic Committee during the period of the Sydney Games from September 15 to October 1.

Four weightlifters and a gymnast were stripped of their medals after positive tests.

Steadward said it was disappointing that athletes had tested positive at the Sydney Paralympics when there had been no positive tests at the previous Atlanta Paralympics.

It was good that the IPC had identified the drug-taking athletes before they had competed, he added.

He said athletes, coaches and their governments needed to take the responsibility to ensure athletes were properly prepared.

"They have to educate and be involved with the athletes so this doesn't happen," Steadward said.

- REUTERS

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