From Deseret News archives:
Romanian gymnast faces drug test probe
The IOC medical commission notified the Romanian gymnastics' delegation that Raducan's test showed "positive signs" of the banned stimulant ephedrine, delegation head Alexandru Mogos told Romanian national radio.
The 4-foot-10 Raducan won the two most prestigious gold medals at the Sydney Olympics, the team competition and women's all-around.
Her dark eyes and tiny frame have earned her comparisons with Nadia Comaneci, who at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10.
The 16-year-old Raducan was allowed to compete Monday, finishing seventh in the floor exercise. On Sunday, she added a silver medal in the vault to the golds she won in the all-around and the team competition. She was the first Romanian to win the all-around title since Comaneci in 1976.
Bruno Grandi, president of the International Gymnastics Federation, said a prominent Romanian gymnast was under investigation by the IOC medical commission. He declined to confirm or deny it was Raducan.
Grandi said the federation's medical chief was asking the IOC for the "B" sample to be tested. The IOC can disqualify an athlete on an "A" sample alone.
"I'm not sure what the accusation is or what the substance involved is," Grandi said.
He confirmed the Romanian delegation had filed a protest.
"They claim it can't be true," Grandi said.
Grandi said no gymnast has ever been expelled from the Olympics for a doping offense.
Raducan and a large Romanian delegation arrived at a Sydney hotel on Monday night to appear before a meeting of the IOC medical panel.
The commission will report to the IOC executive board Tuesday. It's up to the executive board to take action on any doping cases, including possible stripping of medals and expulsion from the games.
Team coach Octavian Belu threatened to withdraw the whole team from the games, the private Romanian news agency Mediafax reported. He did not attend news conferences following Monday's competition.
"Andreea Raducan is an innocent child. She is not capable of such a thing as doping," Dana Encutescu, federal secretary of the Romanian Gymnastic Association, told Romanian media.
Raducan passed a drug test after winning the individual all-around competition. She also won a gold in the team event. After gaining the silver medal Sunday in the vault, she submitted to a second test, which she apparently failed, the Romanian reports said.
Ephedrine, which the IOC lists as a banned substance, can be used as a decongestant and is a central nervous system stimulant. It is found in many cold medications.
"It's very clearly stated that it is forbidden," IOC medical director Patrick Shamasch said, without confirming the Raducan case. "The only potential explanation is it's some sort of silly mistake."
