Mihaela Melinte Escorted Away After Failing Drug Test

World champion hammer thrower Mihaela Melinte of Romania was escorted away from the athletics track at the Sydney Games on Wednesday after being informed that she had failed a drug test.

Athletics officials said the Romanian had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in a test taken in Italy earlier in the season.

‘She didn’t know about the suspension. Officials came over to explain to her that she could not compete,’ International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) spokesman Giorgio Reineri said.

‘The Romanian federation were informed on September 25 that she had been suspended…(But) She believed she had the right to compete.’

Reineri said Melinte had been asked for an explanation after the positive test in Italy.

‘The explanation was received only a few days ago and was not accepted,’ Reineri said.

‘The IAAF has suspended the athlete.’

Source: SOCOG