Doping probe of Greek weightlifters launched

Prosecutors have launched a preliminary investigation into the alleged use of banned substances by 11 Greek weightlifters, judicial officials said Monday.

The athletes' suspended coach, meanwhile, blamed a mistake by a Chinese drug maker for the positive tests.

Olympic weightlifting coach Christos Iakovou, one of Greece's most successful coaches, was suspended on Friday after 11 Greek weightlifters tested positive for banned substances.
(Newsports, File/Associated Press)

The probe, headed by prosecutor Andreas Karaflos, was announced as Greek sporting authorities began an emergency meeting and weightlifting team's preparations for the Beijing Olympics were thrown into turmoil.

Sports Minister Yiannis Ioannidis summoned the heads of the country's main sporting federations and representatives of the Hellenic Olympic Committee.

"We are interested in winning medals, but medals that have been earned with hard work and training," Ioannidis said.

Ioannidis told Associated Press Television News that "I think it is not likely" that Greek weightlifters will compete in the Olympics, but that the International Weightlifting Federation will make the final decision.

Olympic weightlifting coach Christos Iakovou, who was suspended Friday, denied any wrongdoing and blamed the test results on a faulty batch of dietary supplements.

"Neither the athletes nor the team officials and pharmacologists or Mr. Iakovou, knew that the dietary supplements being taken contained any banned substances," Iakovou said in a statement — adding that he was "devastated" by the allegations.

Iakovou, 60, is one of Greece's most successful coaches with his athletes winning five Olympic gold medals, along with five silver and two bronze, since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Iakovou's lawyer, Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, said Monday he had received documents from a Chinese drug maker admitting it had made a mistake and shipped the wrong drugs to Greece.

"The company admits it has made a tragic mistake … I have the documents. I don't think there is stronger proof than this," Dimitrakopoulos said.

Dimitrakopoulos named the company as Auspure Biotechnology Co. Ltd., a Shanghai-based drug maker.

The names of the male and female weightlifters who tested positive have not been announced pending confirmation — expected later this week — of the out-of-competition test from samples taken on March 7.

On Sunday, all 11 athletes testified before an investigative committee set up by the Greek Weightlifting Federation.

The tests were conducted in Athens by the World Anti-Doping Agency, on orders of the International Weightlifting Federation.