Veteran athlete Sun Yingjie fails doping test
(CRIENGLISH)
Updated: 2005-10-22 09:00

Sun Yingjie, winner of the women's marathon event at the ongoing National Games, tested positive in a doping test.  

The test was carried out after the women's 10,000m race during which Sun won a silver medal. As a result of the violation, Sun was stripped of the silver medal.

Further investigation will be carried out and sanctions followed accordingly, said the State General Administration of Sport.

26-year-old Sun Yingjie finished third in women's 10,000m at the 2003 World Championships in Paris. She also won two gold medals in women's 5,000m and 10,000m at 2002 Asian Games.

Respondence:

Sun Yingjie: I can't believe. I only hope that the B sample will prove my innocence.

Wang Dexian (coach): Sun Yingjie passed both blood test and urine test at the Marathon race on 16th in Beijing. Something must be wrong with the water she drank before the women's 10,000m race on 17th in Nanjing. Someone handed her a bottle of water after she finished warmup.

Organizing Committee: The doping test was carried out in accordance with strict regulations. The sample was sent to our Beijing lab on Oct. 18th. According to our rules, negative results will be announced within 24 hours while positive results be announced within 48 hours. We received the result yesterday (Oct. 20th).

Sun also underwent test on Oct. 16th after she won the marathon race. According to the result we received, it's negative.

China's Athletics Federation:

1. Fully support the decision made by the State General Administration for Sport and the Organizing Committee of the 10th National Games.

2. The Federation will carry out further investigation in accordance with the relevent anti-doping regulations issued by the General Administration and the Chinese Olympic Committee. Sun Yingjie and relevent people who are responsible for drug use will be dealt with severely.

3. The Federation will stick to the anti-doping policy.