Belarusian shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk has accused a former coach of “framing” her for a positive steroid test at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Ostapchuk won the gold medal in the women’s shot put but her victory was short-lived after she tested positive for metenolone. Metenolone or methenolone is more commonly known as Primobolan or Primobolan Depot by athletes and bodybuilders.
Anatoly Baduyev, the former deputy chairman of the Belarusian Athletics Federation, was the former coach fingered by Ostapchuk as responsible for sabotaging her sample in London.
“The person [Baduyev], you know who I mean, the one who was involved in blackmail, he promised me long ago: you will have problems with doping control,” said Ostapchuk. “Now I think his threat begins to come true, even though he no longer works with us.”
Blaming a former coach may seem like a far-fetched excuse for a failed steroid test. However, Baduyev has previously been arrested and accused of blackmailing athletes. Russia’s Federal Security Service reported arrested Baduyev for embezzlement and extortion. Baduyev was accused of blackmailing athletes and coaches and threatening to sabotage their doping samples if they refused to pay him.
The Belarusian government has shown support for Ostapchuk. Igor Zaichkov, an aide to the president of the Belarusian’s physical education, sport and tourism agency, pledged the government’s support in Ostapchuk’s effort to retain her Olympic gold medal. At the same time, he acknowledged that she did test positive for steroids.
“Both samples – A and B – tested positive,” said Zaichkov. “We will try to find out what happened and will investigate into the matter. Yet we will fight for Nadzeya Ostapchuk’s medal and defend her interests.”
Some sports officials question the Belarusian government’s sincerity in investigating doping by its athletes. Jean-Pierre Eggers, a Swiss-based track and field coach, has accused Belarus of actively helping its athletes used steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) while avoiding detection.
Eggers believes that Belarus is a dirty country when it comes to steroid use. Eggers identified some countries as “clean” with a reputation of steroid-free competition. Of course, Eggers is biased in support of Valerie Adams who spends a considerable amount of time training in Switzerland.
The 2012 Olympic gold medal in the shot put would go to Adams given Ostapchuk’s steroid positive. However, it could take some time before this formally occurs.
Ostapchuk has indicated she will appeal the positive steroid result from London.
Photo credit: Erik van Leeuwen, attribution: Erik van Leeuwen (bron: Wikipedia).
Sources:
Fairfax. (August 15, 2012). Ostapchuk blames former official for failed tests. Retrieved from http://tvnz.co.nz/olympics-2012/ostapchuk-blames-former-official-failed-tests-5024213
Fairfax. (August 16, 2012). Belarus knee-deep in doping. Retrieved from http://tvnz.co.nz/olympics-2012/belarus-knee-deep-in-doping-jean-pierre-eggers-5026681
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