IOC strips Uzbek wrestler Soslan Tigiev

Lausanne – Switzerland, Nov 07: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that it has disqualified Uzbek wrestler Soslan Tigiev from the men’s 74kg freestyle wrestling event during the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London, where he placed third.

Immediately after his participation in the event on 10 August, Tigiev, 29, provided a urine sample that tested positive for the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine.

Upon considering the recommendations of the IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Thomas Bach (Chairman), Denis Oswald and Göran Petersson, the IOC Executive Board decided:

I. The athlete, Soslan Tigiev, Uzbekistan, wrestling:

(i) is disqualified from the men’s 74kg freestyle wrestling event, where he placed third;

(ii) is excluded from the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012;

(iii) shall have his medal, diploma and medallist pin in the above-noted event withdrawn;

II. The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.

III. The NOC of Uzbekistan is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the medal, diploma and medallist pin awarded to the Athlete in relation to the above-noted event.

IV. It is noted that FILA considers that, in accordance with its rules, the third place would be reallocated to Gabor Hatos of Hungary. As a consequence, the IOC administration is instructed to reallocate the medal, diploma and medallist pin accordingly.

V. The NOC of Uzbekistan and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games shall ensure full implementation of the Executive Board decision.

VI. This decision shall enter into force immediately.

Read the full decision here.

Under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the 2012 London Olympic Games, testing took place under the IOC’s auspices from 16 July (date of the opening of the Olympic Village) to 12 August 2012. Within that period, the IOC systematically performed tests before and after events. After each event, the IOC carried out tests on the top five finishers plus two at random. The IOC also performed unannounced, out-of-competition tests. Over the course of the London Games, the IOC carried out 5,000 tests – 3,800 urine and 1,200 blood. For more information, please consult the IOC factsheet on anti-doping. —- IOC/Photo: dailytelegraph.com.au