Uzbekistani 74kg freestyle wrestler Soslan Tigiev is set to become the second athlete to be stripped of their 2012 Olympic medal after he tested positive for a banned substance following his bronze medal performance in London.
Tigiev tested positive for the methylhexaneamine, a stimulant that doubles as a nasal decongestant and a dietary supplement. IOC officials told the AP that Tigiev was tested Aug. 10 after winning his bronze medal match, but the result wasn’t confirmed until after competition ended Aug 12.
Tigiev’s case remained confidential while it was investigated by the IOC disciplinary board, which eventually suggested Tigiev be disqualified and his medal be revoked. The findings were submitted to the executive board for ratification and all votes were due to be mailed in by Monday.
Tigiev, who still owns a silver from Beijing, joins Belarusian female shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk as the only two London athletes stripped of their medals from the more than 5,000 blood and urine samples taken before, during, and after the Games. Seven other athletes found guilty of doping were banned before the Olympics.
Ostapchuk lost her gold and was banned from competition for a year – a reduced suspension – after her coach confessed to spiking her food with the anabolic steroid metenolone leading up to the Games.
Tigiev will be stripped of his medal and Hungary’s Gabor Hatos, who lost to Tigiev in a bronze medal match will slide up to bronze. America’s Jordan Burroughs took gold in the event.
