Winter Olympics 2022 - Iranian Alpine skiier Hossein Saveh-Shemshaki fails doping test, suspended

ByEurosport

Published 10/02/2022 at 07:46 GMT

Iranian skier Hossein Saveh-Shemshaki has returned a positive doping test in Beijing. Saveh-Shemshaki, who has tested positive for an anabolic steroid, has the option to lodge an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and to "request the analysis of the B-sample". Saveh-Shemshaki was set to compete at his third Olympics in China.

Iranian Porya Saveh Shemshaki competes in the first run of the Men's Giant Slalom event on February 19, 2021 at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Image credit: Getty Images

Iranian skier Hossein Saveh-Shemshaki has failed a doping test and has now been suspended from the Winter Olympics.

The 36-year-old, who raced for Iran in slalom and giant slalom at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, has been suspended after testing positive for an anabolic steroid on Monday.

His result returned an "adverse analytical finding" in an out-of-contest test.

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A statement from the International Testing Agency read: "The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

"This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022."

Saveh-Shemshaki was Iran's flag bearer at Sochi. He was one of two athletes set to represent Iran at this year's Olympics alongside female skier Atefeh Ahmadi.

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