09.15.2004:Nesterenko Failed Drug Test on Clenbuterol

from Europosrt.com :

Ranked a lowly 113th in the world last year with a season's best time of 11.45 seconds, Nesterenko gold medal-winning performance in Athens of 10.93 raised a few eyebrows.

It came as little surprise when Polish reports confirmed that the Belarusian, competing under her maiden name of Bartsewitsch, had tested positive for the banned steroid Clenbuterol on May 25, 2002 at a certain Biala Podlaska meeting.

The only problem, however, was that the event was local and therefore not sanctioned by neither the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) nor the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Nesterenko's A sample was tested at a laboratory in Warsaw, which was not accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Polish Federation subsequently 'forgot' to inform the IAAF of the positive A sample and, consequently, the B sample was never analysed.

"For us, the case is closed," IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said. "It is a case that is legally based on nothing."

While she can't be banned, the situation won't do wonders for Nesterenko's credibility.

Eurosport - Judith Elfassy 15/09/2004 category:female athletes

Comments

[Marc Hugo]

While Clenbuterol is a banned substance by most sporting bodies with IOC affiliations, it is not, as indicated above, a steroid. It does not behave remotely like one.

It is a high-beta (probably 4) adrenergic agonist. This places it in a similar class to the ephydrines etc.

Marc