The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced that it has disqualified American judoka Nicholas Delpopolo from the men’s 73kg judo event of the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London.
Immediately after his participation in the event on 30 July, Delpopolo, 23, provided a urine sample that tested positive for the prohibited substance 11-nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid.
The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Thomas Bach (Chairman), Denis Oswald and Frank Fredericks, decided:
I. The Athlete, Mr Nicholas Delpopolo, United States of America, Judo:
(i) is disqualified from the men’s 73kg judo event of the 2012 London Olympic Games where he placed 7th;
(ii) shall have his diploma in the above-mentioned event withdrawn; and
(iii) shall have his Olympic identity and accreditation card cancelled and withdrawn immediately.
II. The IJF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
III. The USOC is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diploma awarded to the Athlete in relation to the above-mentioned event.
IV. The IOC administration is requested to reallocate the diplomas to the athletes that finished behind Mr Delpopolo in the above-mentioned event, in which Mr Delpopolo placed 7th at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
V. 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 takes 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 performs tests before and after events. After each event, the IOC systematically carries out tests on the top five finishers plus two at random. The IOC also performs out-of-competition unannounced tests. Over the course of the London Games, the IOC is expected to carry out some 5,000 tests - 3,800 urine and 1,200 blood. For more information, please consult the IOC factsheet on anti-doping.
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