Paralympics: Pakistani Powerlifter Drugs Test Positive

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at 5:10 pm

A Pakistani powerlifter has been kicked out of the Beijing Paralympics and banned for two years after becoming the first athlete to test positive for drugs at the event, officials said on Tuesday.

Naveed Ahmed Butt tested positive for methandienone metabolites, a steroid, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said in a statement.

The urine sample was taken on September 4 in Beijing, two days before the opening ceremony.

“In accordance with the IPC anti-doping code, and after a hearing of the IPC anti-doping committee, the IPC ratified the decision to disqualify Butt from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games,” the statement said, adding that a two-year ban had been imposed.

IPC President Philip Craven said over the weekend that he was hoping for a “totally clean” event following hard work by authorities to stamp out doping through extensive testing and education.

In the 2004 Athens Paralympics, 680 doping tests were conducted, resulting in 10 anti-doping rule violations — two out-of-competitions and eight in-competitions, according to the IPC.

Powerlifting has been particularly hard-hit by doping scandals, including in Athens.

The 13th Paralympics, involving more than 4,000 athletes, run until September 17.