Asian Games records first doping case involving medalist

FILE–Members of Turkmenistan’s delegation take part in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on September 23, 2023. (Photo by Ishara S.KODIKARA / AFP)

Turkmenistan’s Tejen Tejenov on Thursday became the first medalist at the Hangzhou Asian Games to fail a doping test, officials said, with a Saudi runner later becoming the sixth athlete in total.

The 30-year-old Tejenov, who came second in the heavyweight 90kg category of kurash, an ancient form of wrestling, tested positive for anabolic steroids, the International Testing Agency said.

He has been provisionally suspended and is in danger of being stripped of his silver medal.

“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect,” said the ITA, which handles some areas of doping control at the Games.

“He has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.”

Tejenov won silver behind Uzbek winner Mukhsin Khismomiddinov on September 30 and was tested the same day.

Doping results generally take several days to come through if they are positive.

Saudi middle-distance runner Wesam Nasser Al-Farsi also failed a doping test, the ITA said, for the prohibited substance darbepoetin, which is usually used to treat severe anemia.

He competed in the 3,000m steeplechase and came last, and has now been provisionally suspended.

Uzbek cyclist Aleksey Fomovskiy, Philippine mountain-bike rider Ariana Evangelista, Saudi distance runner Mohammed Yousef Alasiri and Afghan boxer Mohammad Khaibar Nooristani have also failed drugs tests in Hangzhou.

They have also all been provisionally suspended.