update: 06-MAR-2002
USA/International Gymnast

US-Turner wegen Marihuana-Gebrauchs verwarnt

- Severe Warning" For American Gymnasts' Marijuana Use -

(Vorschau)

 

Severe Warning" For American Gymnasts' Marijuana Use

Three American gymnasts who tested positive for marijuana received a "severe warning" from the FIG. "I think they feel really badly," USA Gymnastics president Bob Colarossi told IG Wednesday.

Gymnastics' latest doping scandal culminated today with three American gymnasts receiving a "severe warning" from the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for testing positive for marijuana.

Sean Townsend, Brett McClure, and Jason Gatson all flunked an out-of-competition doping test given by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in January, with their tests showing traces of marijuana.

"I'm really disappointed in the choices that the guys made," USA Gymnastics president Bob Colarossi told IG this afternoon. "I think they feel really badly about the choices that they did make."

The FIG gave the gymnasts a written warning, but indicated that "in the event of subsequent offenses, these gymnasts could be subject to suspension of up to two years."

Marijuana, or cannabis, is not a performance-enhancing drug but is on the FIG's list of banned substances because of its illegal nature. Other U.S. gymnasts were tested in the unannounced doping control by WADA, but were clean of all banned substances.

"Their first love is gymnastics, just like all of ours," continued Colarossi. "They feel bad about what they did and they have all promised me it will never happen again."

(Source: International Gymnast)

 INTERNATIONAL GYMNAST 
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Strenge Verwarnung wegen Marihuana-Gebrauchs

Drei amerikanische Turner, die positiv auf Marihuana getestet wurden, erhielten eine "ernsthafte Verwarnung" durch den Weltverband FIG. "Ich glaube, sie fühlen sich sehr schlecht", so äußerte sich der Präsident des USA- Turnverbandes Bob Calorossi gegenüber IG.

Der letzte Dopingskandal des Turnens culminierte am 6.März in der "ernsten Verwarnung" von 3 amerikanischen Turnern durch die FIG, nachdem sie positiv auf Marihuana getestet waren.
Sean Townsend, Brett McClure, und Jason Gatson fielen bei einem Alltagstest der Anti-Doping-Weltagentur WADA im Januar durch Spuren von Marihuana auf.

"Ich bin wirklich enttäuscht über die Handlungsweise der Turner", so äußerte sich Bob Colarossi gegenüber INTERNATIONAL GYMNAST (IG). "Ich glaube, sie fühlen sich richtig schlecht nach ihrem Vergehen".

Die FIG übergab den Turnern eine schriftliche Verwarnung mit dem Hinweis "dass im Falle eines neuerlichen Verstoßes eine Sperre bis zu 2 Jahren" erfolgen kann.

Obwohl Marihuana oder Cannabis keine ausgewiesene Droge ist, stehen diese Mittel auf der FIG-Liste der verbotenen Substanzen auf Grund ihres illegalen Charakters.
Andere US-Turner, die ebenfalls durch die WADA getestet wurden, waren "sauber".

"In erster Linie lieben sie ihre Sportart, so wie wir alle", sagte Colarossi. "Sie fühlen sich äußerst unwohl nach ihrer Tat und haben mir versprochen, dass dies nie wieder geschehen wird".

(Quelle: "International Gymnast")

(gymmedia)

  >> ... more information:

Gymnastics Champion Tests Positive
MOUTIER, Switzerland - U.S. national gymnastics champion Sean Townsend and two teammates tested positive for cannabis and were warned they could be suspended if this happens again.

Townsend, Brett McClure and Jason Gatson failed the unannounced, out-of-competition test in January, the International Gymnastics Federation said Wednesday.
"In the event of subsequent offenses, these gymnasts could be subject to a suspension of up to two years. Gymnasts, be warned," the federation said. A positive test for cannabis does not merit an automatic suspension because it is not a performance-enhancing substance.
Townsend, of Dallas, is the world champion on the parallel bars. 
McClure, of Mill Creek, Wash., was runner-up to Townsend at the national championships and won the bronze medal in the pommel horse at the Goodwill Games last August.
Gatson, 22, of Mesa, Ariz., made the U.S. world championships team in 1997, the youngest man ever to do so.

The federation also said a second test of a blood sample by rhythmic gymnast Irina Tchachina of Russia was positive for the diuretic furosemide.
The tests on Tchachina were carried out during the world championships in Madrid, Spain, last October. Furosemide is sometimes used by athletes to shed weight quickly or to mask other substances.

Tchachina and Russian teammate Alina Kabaeva already have been stripped of the medals they won at the event after testing positive for the same substance during the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, in August. Between them, the teen-agers took gold and silver in every discipline at both events.

The Russian rhythmic gymnastics federation has appealed the one-year suspension given to the pair. The international federation said it will decide whether Tchachina should receive further punishment for the second positive test.
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