| Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 14, 2001 |
Disqualified Boxer Takes Drugs by Mistake, Delegation Says |
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The boxer disqualified on Tuesday from China's National Games in Guangzhou for failing a doping test, had mistakenly taken a medicine which contains a banned drug, a spokesman of his delegation claimed on Wednesday.
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The boxer disqualified on Tuesday from China's National Games in Guangzhou for failing a doping test, had mistakenly taken a medicine which contains a banned drug, a spokesman of his delegation claimed on Wednesday.
Zhu Henghai from southwestern Chinese city Chongqing, who took the third place in the earlier over 91-kilogram category competition, had his urine Sample A tested positive.
The disciplinary commission and competition department of the games' organizing committee announced on Tuesday to immediately disqualify Zhu from the games and withdraw his bronze medal. His competition result was also declared invalid.
After completing an investigation into the issue, the Chongqingdelegation found that Zhu had taken a compound of Chinese medicineagainst hypertension, which happened to contain diuretic ingredients, said the spokesman.
Diuretics, which could help reduce body weight, is among the drugs banned by the International Olympic Committee.
Competing in his first National Games, Zhu was nervous and his blood pressure ran even higher. So he took some medicine on his own. The spokesman blamed the team doctor, for failed to prevent themistake. But he said the boxer did not necessarily take such drugs. "Zhu was competing in the heaviest over 91kg category, a category where weight reduction is of no sense."
The delegation firmly supported the fight against doping and obeyed the ruling, he said.
According to an official of the organizing committee, as tracesof diuretics was found in the athlete's urine sample, the punishment was necessary regardless whatever conditions for takingthe drug. "The diuretic content might have served as a cover agent for other banned drugs taken," said, who declined to identify himself.
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