IOC sanctions six sportspersons for failing dope tests at 2008 Games

Geneva, Aug 31: The International Olympic Committee has sanctioned six athletes for failing doping tests at the Beijing Games in 2008, it was announced on Wednesday.

They included three Russian medallists — weighlifters Nadezda Evstyukhina and Marina Shainova, and Tatyana Firova, who finished second with teammates in the 4x400m event. Evstyukhina won a bronze medal in the Beijing Games, while Shainova won silver, reports Xinhua.

Bronze medal-winning weighlighter Tigran Martirosyan of Armenia and fellow weighlifters Alexandru Dudoglo of Moldova and Intigam Zairov of Azerbaijan were also disqualified, the IOC said in a statement.