The Polish Olympic Committee has announced that Poland’s Olympic cross country skier Kornelia Marek’s second “B” sample has proved positive.
The test was carried out during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver after the 4x5 km relay race in which the Polish team took sixth place. Her “A” sample proved positive and was announced as such last Wednesday. March 12, after which the second test was performed. The "B" sample was found to contain EPO, a synthetic hormone.
Marek has professed her innocence throughout the week. “I have never taken any banned substances," she told TVP television.
On Tuesday, the Polish Skiing Association met in Krakow and took statements from Marek, her physician and her physiotherapist. The
International Olympic Committee is empowered to annul all results which the 24 year-old Marek achieved, including records and the team performance. The athletes sports scholarships will also be withdrawn.
The skier will also be banned from the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The failed dope tests have cast a shadow over Poland‘s performance at the Winter Olympics this year, which was their best in the history of the completion, bringing home six medals. (pg)