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Aurimas Didzbalis, bronze medalist in weightlifting at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, has tested positive for doping, the International Testing Agency announced on Thursday.
Didzbalis, 34, is one of seven athletes who competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and tested positive after their samples were re-tested. Samples taken during the Olympic Games are stored and can be retested for up to 10 years after the event to allow for new developments in the science of doping.
“The majority of these positive reanalysis results are mainly due to technical advances,” the ITA said, with more sensitive detection of traces of steroids.
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Aurimas Didzbalis gestures during the men’s 94kg final of the 2017 European Weightlifting Championships in Split, Croatia, April 7, 2017. (Stringer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Didzbalis, along with three of the other athletes who tested positive, tested positive for the anabolic steroid danabol. Sprinter Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria, who placed eighth in the women’s 200 meters final, tested positive for ostarine, which has effects similar to steroids.
Didzbalis, following the new test, risks disqualification by the International Olympic Committee and could have his medal withdrawn. Thai athlete Sarat Sumpradit placed fourth.
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Adam Maligov, Aurimas Didzbalis and Dmytro Chumak take the stage for the medal ceremony for the men’s 94kg final at the 2017 European Weightlifting Championships in Split, Croatia. April 5, 2017. (STRINGER/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
The 34-year-old’s positive test is not the first time he has tested positive for steroids. Didzbalis also tested positive for doping before the 2012 London Olympics and during the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, California.
“The athletes will also be provisionally suspended by their respective international federations,” the ITA said.
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Aurimas Didzbalis reacts as he competes in the men’s 94kg weightlifting event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. August 13, 2016. (GOH CHAI HIN/AFP via Getty Images)
The new Olympic doping cases included four in weightlifting and one each in judo, wrestling and track and field.
Two of the athletes were from Egypt, one from Belarus, one from Olympic host country Brazil, one from Bulgaria, one from Lithuania and one from Uzbekistan.
