On the Scene -- IOC Rules on Beijing Doping Cases

(ATR) In Lausanne, the IOC has sanctioned three athletes for doping offenses at the Beijing Olympics

The IOC today sanctioned three athletes for doping offenses at the Beijing Olympics. It brings the total number of athletes caught doping at the Games to nine.

The executive board meeting in Lausanne took decisions on the cases involving two Belarussian athletes and one Polish kayaker.

Vadim Devyatovskiy was disqualified from the men's hammer competition and stripped of his silver medal. He faces a lifetime ban for a second doping violation. The 31-year-old tested positive for testosterone on Aug. 17; he had already served a two-year ban for a previous drugs offense.

"The sanction of a lifetime ban from the Olympic Games in this case was considered appropriate on the grounds that it is the second time the athlete has been found to have violated IOC anti-doping rules," said IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau.

Men's hammer bronze medalist Ivan Tsikhan was also disqualified from the event and stripped of his medal. The 32-year-old also tested positive for testosterone on Aug. 17.

In September, the two Belarusians appeared at IOC hearings in Lausanne. Moreau claimed the doping cases had taken several months to resolve due to necessary drug testing procedures.

The IOC decision means that Krisztian Pars of Hungary is upgraded to the silver medal and the bronze goes to Koji Murofushi of Japan.

The IAAF has been asked to modify the results of the men’s hammer competition and to consider any further action within its own anti-doping regulations.

Tsikhan faces a possible two-year ban from the athletics governing body for his violation. If sanctioned for six months or longer, he would be barred from competing in the London 2012 Games under the IOC's eligibility ruling.

The IOC has also ordered the NOC of Belarus to return the two medals.

In another ruling, Polish kayaker Adam Seroczynski, who was fourth in the K2 1,000-meter final, was disqualified from the Games. He tested positive for clenbuterol on Aug. 22. The International Canoe Federation may consider taking further action.

The Polish kayak double team (K2) of Seroczynski and Mariusz Kujawski has also been disqualified from the 1,000-meter event, where they placed fourth, following the IOC's ruling.

Six athletes were sanctioned for doping offenses at the Beijing Olympics. Moreau said that six doping cases involving horses are still pending.

A total of 4,770 doping tests were conducted in Beijing in the IOC's biggest crackdown on drug cheats at an Olympics. Earlier this week, the IOC said that some 500 drug samples collected from athletes at the Games are to be retested for insulin and Cera, a new version of the endurance-enhancing hormone EPO. The results are due by March.

Vancouver 2010 Prepares for Financial Challenges Ahead

The IOC today approved the cultural program, sports entry process and stamp program for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.Rene Fasel, chair of the IOC's coordination commission for Vancouver and John Furlong, CEO of VANOC, updated board members on preparations for the Games.

Despite the challenges of the global financial crisis, Furlong told reporters that VANOC was in a good position, saying EB members "were heartened by our progress."

VANOC's revised budget received interim approval from its board of directors this week. The management team is taking more time to finish the budget and consult with partner governments; the size of the budget is expected sometime after the Jan. 21 board meeting.

Furlong told reporters that the volatile economic climate remained front of mind in VANOC's preparations. "Everyone is paying very close attention to the economy and we’re doing the same thing," he said, adding that the focus was on finalizing a "robust budget."

"We're doing everything we can to make sure we are putting our time, our energy and our money on the things that count the most and removing things that don’t count," he said.

"I think the IOC is encouraged with the way we are going about our business."

Commenting on the challenges of the economic downturn, Furlong said VANOC was experiencing the same issues as other global entities but was in the fortunate position that all venues were built.

Now it was a case of allocating resources in the right places and not spending money that doesn't add real value at Games-time, he added. "There’s a very high emphasis on fiscal due diligence and being very responsible with every dollar and finding new ways to generate money," he said.

Furlong said VANOC officials were paying attention to "every little detail."

"There is just nothing in the scope of our project that we are not looking at,” he commented, saying contingency plans were being made in the event of any surprises in the build-up to the Games.

"We have to behave like we could be confronted with a big challenge and that’s what we are doing; trying to be ready for anything that could occur."

Dave Cobb, VANOC's executive vice president of revenue, marketing and communications, updated the EB on Vancouver's sponsorship program, telling members that the major sponsors remain firm in their commitments to the Games.

Furlong said the 55 partners were so far meeting all their obligations to the organizing committee: "We expect that will continue as we go forward."

One very positive sign amid the global financial turmoil was the success of the ticketing program for the Games: "Even in this climate the Canadian public has responded in enormous numbers."

Written by Mark Bisson in Lausanne.