Doping: 3667 athletes tested, IOC seeks action against Halkia8217;s coach

Determined not to let dope cheats off the hook, the International Olympic Council has sought action against dope-tainted Greece athlete Fani Halkia's coach George Panagiotopoulos, while putting 3667 athletes under what is the largest-ever testing programme for an Olympic Games in Beijing.

Determined not to let dope cheats off the hook, the International Olympic Council has sought action against dope-tainted Greece athlete Fani Halkia8217;s coach George Panagiotopoulos, while putting 3667 athletes under what is the largest-ever testing programme for an Olympic Games in Beijing.

The IOC said in a statement that as of Sunday, 3667 doping tests have been carried out, including 2905 urine and 762 blood tests.

The urine tests include 616 EPO or Erythropoietin test, while the blood tests include 454 Human Growth Hormone HGH tests.

Athletes qualified for the Beijing Olympics are being tested by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the organizing committee BOCOG under the aegis of IOC.

Regarding Halkia, whose sample B also tested positive for the banned substance Methyltrienolone a steroid with potential serious effects on health the IOC praised Greece for suspending Halkia and sending her back but sought action against her coach.

The IOC Disciplinary Commission said Halkia8217;s file should be transferred to the International Association of Athletics Federations and requested the IAAF to consider any further action against the athlete.

8220;The IOC Disciplinary Commission will report the matter to the competent Greek authorities, with a request to investigate possible violations of Greek law, in particular by the coach, George Panagiotopoulos,8221; the IOC statement read.

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8220;The IOC reserves its right to take sanctions or measures in relation to the Athlete8217;s coach,8221; it added.

Samples provided by Halkia on August 10 in Fukui, Japan during a pre-competition test, proved positive for Methyltrienolone.

The IOC8217;s Medical Director, Dr Patrick Schamasch, was informed of the positive result on August 16.

At the athlete8217;s request, the 8216;B8217; sample was tested on August 17 and later that day, this sample too proved positive for the same banned substance.

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IOC has earlier sanctioned Korean shooter Jong Su Kim for testing positive for Propranolol and Vietnam8217;s artistic gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do, who tested positive for Furosemide.