The publication of the results of double inspections of doping samples of the athletes participating in the Olympic Games in Beijing and London in which the names of weightlifters Tigran Martirosyan and Hripsime Khurshudyan are included is periodically becoming a subject of heated debated on the social networks. The posted comments and analyses are contradictory and sometimes as assured by the sources well-aware of the case distorted. In particular, it is often said or assumed that the results of our two weightlifters recorded until now are canceled, and Tigran and Hripsime are subject to disqualification or are already disqualified.
Aravot.am talked to the head of the Anti-Doping Organization of Armenia, Doctor of Medical Sciences Areg Hovannisian. “The double examination of the analyses of doping of Hripsime Khurshudyan in the Olympics Games in London has been carried out in May this year and already in June, we were informed that her sample revealed stanozolol and turinabol again. As of now, except for temporary dismissal, nothing has been carried out by the IOC and the International Federation. Temporary dismissal means that the player cannot participate in international competition temporarily which is carried out under the auspices of the national or international federation. It is not a disqualification. For example, with this status, the athlete can easily participate in the city tournament which is organized by the municipality or in a sports school championship. And as to what decision will be made later regarding disqualification or not, nobody knows.
There are many cases when in the beginning there us a temporary dismissal which is followed by another decision: a warning or not to apply any action against the athlete. Disqualification also happens. The same goes for Tigran Martirosyan too. I repeat, today, no one in the world knows what final decision will be made by the international federation,” said Areg Hovhannisyan. Moreover, by the sources of Aravot.am, the International Association of Athletics has disseminated information according to which when making a decision on the disqualification, they may be guided by the Anti-Doping Code of given year. In other words, the athlete may be disqualified for two years calculated from this moment.
According to another unconfirmed source, there is also a recommendation to meet the results of the athletes until 2010 with identified positive samples in the Games of 2008 by considering canceled. And the new code which provides for a four-year disqualification was adopted in 2015. Secretary general of Armenia’s Weightlifting Federation and chief coach of the national men’s team, Pashik Alaverdyan is upset that the Armenian media are so passionate in covering these unwanted stories of the far away past of especially Armenian weightlifters and often disseminate misinformation on the Internet.
In his words, about 160 athletes from 55 IOC countries from various sport have appeared in this same story, and the presence of Armenia on this list is one of the lowest. Hence, all of this is not only about our two weightlifters. In any case, when a new line appears in the international media on this subject, it turns into a full-scale discussion and each one interprets it accordingly. Hripsime Khurshudyan also does not know what decision will be made. “No member of the team will never use any banned substance knowingly, highly realizing that it could put an end to her sports career one and forever, wasting the years and sweat which was shed for winning a medal. Moreover, when the President of the National Olympic Committee, Gagik Tsarukyan, had strictly announced that the athletes breaking the anti-doping rules and their coaches will pay the fines from their own pockets and will leave the sports forever.”
Ashot HAKOBYAN
