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Star Runner Sun Tests Positive
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China's long-distance running star Sun Yingjie failed the doping test after the women's 10,000 meters race at the 10th National Games and was stripped of her silver medal yesterday.

 

"Sun tested positive for the banned androsterone in the dope test conducted after the women's 10,000m final on Monday night," announced Guo Jianjun, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee of the National Games. "Sun's result of the 10,000m was nullified and she was prohibited from competing in the remaining events of the Games."

 

It is the first positive doping case reported at the October 12-23 National Games.

 

 

During Monday's race, 26-year-old Sun clocked 31:03.09 to win the silver medal in the women's 10,000 meters, losing to Xing Huina of Shandong Province in 31:00.73.

 

Sun of the Locomotive Sports Association was also originally scheduled to compete again in the women's 5,000 meters on Saturday.

 

Just one day prior to the 10,000 meters, Sun timed in 2:21:01 for her third consecutive victory in the annual Beijing International Marathon last Sunday, which also categorized as the marathon final of the National Games, but admitted to be exhausted after the 42.195km race.

 

"It was a very hard race for me and I did not feel good," said Sun right after the marathon. "I feel very tired and I'm not satisfied with the result."

 

 

However, Sun was able to keep her marathon gold medal since she passed the doping test for the Beijing event.

 

"Sun's urine sample taken after the Beijing International Marathon returned negative results, so she can keep her title for the marathon race," said Zhao Jian, vice director of Doping Control Department of the National Games.

 

According to Zhao, the doping tests were all conducted at the IOC-accredited laboratory in Beijing and the positive result was reported within 48 hours in line with the doping control regulations of the National Games.

 

The Chinese Athletics Association (CAA), the governing body of China's track and field, expressed their agreement of the punishment delivered to Sun, who is one of the world's top long-distance runners.

 

"We firmly support the penalty that was issued by the organizing committee," said Luo Chaoyi, vice president of CAA. "We will issue further punishment to Sun and others involved following a detailed investigation. CAA will adhere to fighting the use of performance enhancing drugs. No matter who violates the anti-doping rules, severe punishments will be issued."

 

Sun won the bronze medal in the women's 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships in 2003 and claimed gold medals in three successive Beijing International Marathons since.

 

Sun and her coach Wang Dexian testified that they were innocent.

 

"It is a heavy blow for me and I feel very terrible," said Sun. "I cannot understand why the tests produced such different results since they were taken only two days apart. I cannot believe it and I will request a secondary test on the sample B."

 

According to resources from website reports, her coach Wang also considered Sun to be a victim.

 

"While Sun was warming-up before the 10,000m race, she was asked for a signature and drank some water that was passed to her, which was very careless," said Wang. "We want further investigation and we will appeal since we are innocent."

 

 

As confirmed by Zhao yesterday afternoon, Sun has appealed verbally to the organizing committee for a test on sample B.

 

"A verbal appeal is not enough, and we require a formal application," said Zhao. "It has not yet been decided as to when sample B will be tested."

 

(China Daily October 22, 2005)

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