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How Olympic Athletes are Tested for Drugs

Written by: Jon Mitchell Jackson

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Posted over 3 years ago. 0 helpful votes, 0 comments

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Short Hearings, Disqualifications, Fast Appeals

If athletes test positive, they must appear within 24 hours at an IOC disciplinary hearing. Failing to show up for tests can lead to disqualification. Athletes can request a delay of the hearing, but the IOC need not grant it. If the IOC assesses a penalty, athletes can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, a Swiss body which runs on-site arbitrations. By rule, the group must resolve most appeals within 24 hours.

Strict Time Limitations Also Make It Difficult for Legal and Medical Experts to Prepare for, Travel to, and Appear at the Expedited Hearings

According to legal experts, due process protections are far and few between. The strict time limitations also make it difficult for legal and medical experts to prepare, travel to, and then appear at the expedited hearings. Doping in the Olympics and sports in general continues to be a big problem. On August 18, 2008, Greek hurdler, Fani Chalkia, tested positive for the banned steriod Methyltrienolone. This follows a Korean shooter who failed two doping tests and will have to return a silver and a bronze medal, and a Vietnamese gymnast who tested positive. Taking a particularly aggressive stance this year against doping, the IOC will conduct 4,500 blood and urine tests, the most in Olympic history.