Duo fail drugs test
Kim Jong-su is stripped of his medals after testing positive for drugs - with gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do also failing a doping test.
By Paul Higham
Last Updated: 15/08/08 8:39am
Double shooting medallist Kim Jong-su has been stripped of his medals after testing positive for drugs - with Vietnamese gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do also failing a doping test.
North Korean Kim tested positive for the beta-blocker Propanolol, which can prevent shaking, and was immediately banned from the Games and stripped of his medals.
Kim took silver in the 50m pistol and a bronze in the 10m event but now Tan Zongliang of China will be handed silver in the 50m, with Vladimir Isakov of Russia taking the bronze. In the 10m, American Jason Turner will be awarded Kim's bronze.
Vietnamese gymnast Thuong finished in last place in the women's floor exercise, but has tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic which can be used as a masking agent for other drugs.
Professor
Professor Arne Ljungqvist of the IOC's medical commission said there was no doubt that Kim had deliberately taken drugs to enhance his performance.
"This beta-blocking agent is banned only in certain sports such as shooting and archery which require great control," said Ljungqvist.
"Therefore I can only describe it (the drug-taking) as deliberate."
Ljungqvist had different thoughts on the case of Thuong, whom he says may have been badly advised.
"My interpretation is that it is a problem resulting from poor information of the athlete, not enough knowledge what to take," Ljungqvist added.
