ITALY: OLYMPIC GAME - Ethiopian skier Robel Teklemariam suspended for five days after tests showed he had an abnormally high red blood cell count
Record ID:
332096
ITALY: OLYMPIC GAME - Ethiopian skier Robel Teklemariam suspended for five days after tests showed he had an abnormally high red blood cell count
- Title: ITALY: OLYMPIC GAME - Ethiopian skier Robel Teklemariam suspended for five days after tests showed he had an abnormally high red blood cell count
- Date: 11th February 2006
- Summary: PRAGELATO, ITALY (FEBRUARY 8, 2006) (REUTERS) ETHIOPIAN SKIER ROBEL TEKLEMARIAM APPROACHING SNOW WITH SKIS TEKLEMARIAM PUTTING ON SKIS TEKLEMARIAM SKIING VARIOUS OF TEKLEMARIAM
- Embargoed: 26th February 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA8N35G2A2K0A13MFVSD7MISLZE
- Story Text: Ethiopian skier Robel Teklemariam was among four more cross-country skiers suspended for five days on Friday (February 10) after tests showed they had an abnormally high red blood cell count.
Alen Abramovic (Croatia), Pavel Korosteljev and Nikolai Pankratov (both Russia) were shown to have too high haemoglobin values, the International Ski Federation (FIS) said.
Teklemariam, who carried the Ethiopian flag in Friday's opening ceremony and would be the first Ethiopian to compete at the Winter Games, would still be able to race, though, as the 15km classical is scheduled for next Friday, when his suspension would have ended.
But he would miss the 30km pursuit which is scheduled for Sunday, Feb.
However, his red blood cell count will have had to have dropped within acceptable levels under FIS regulations to compete in the classical.
Earlier on Friday, it was announced eight other cross-country skiers had been suspended for five days from Thursday.
The latest four will be suspended from Friday until Tuesday, Feb. 14.
"It should be emphasised that this start prohibition is not a sanction but is considered to serve to protect the health of the athlete," FIS said in a statement.
Among those banned earlier is Germany's Olympic cross-country skiing relay champion Evi Sachenbacher Stehle who broke down in tears when she heard the news.
She was regarded by the ski media as the only serious medal contender of the 12 suspended.
The tests do not indicate the athletes have taken illicit substances but high haemoglobin levels are also a key indication of blood doping, which is why the FIS monitors them. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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