Sport: More drug bans in Olympic lead-up

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Drug cheats are being unmasked on the eve of the Olympics as swiftly as the plunge of a syringe.

Former women's world weightlifting champion Chen Jui-lien has been kicked out of the Taiwanese Olympic team after testing positive for the anabolic steroid metandienone.

Despite a plea from the Taiwanese President, Chen Shui-bian, for more leniency, the four-time world champ has been fined $1 million Taiwan, and banned from competing for two years.

Meanwhile, Russia's star synchronised swimmer, Marisa Kisseleva, was yesterday stripped of her European championship gold medal after a positive test for the banned stimulant ephedrine.

And two Greek Olympians also face bans - race walker Alexandra Tziouti is out of the team after returning two positive tests for nandrolone, while cyclist Giorgos Himonetos needs a second urine test after his first found traces of stanozolol.

Herald Online Olympics