July 23/15 8:51 am - Colombian Cyclist Fails Doping Test at Pan Am Games

Posted by Editor on 07/23/15
 

Maria Luisa Calle Williams, a former Olympic medalist, failed an anti-doping test that was administered after the Women's Team Pursuit.  The 46 year old Calle Williams was informed of her positive prior to the start of Wednesday's Individual Time Trial - where she was the defending champion - and did not start, which had caused much speculation at the race.  The specifics of her positive were not released, however, Colombian media have reported that it was a growth hormone supplement, GHRP2.  Although it has not been announced, Colombia will almost certainly lose their fourth place in the Team Pursuit.

Calle Williams was previously involved in a doping scandal after she won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.  She was stripped of her medal after a positive for the stimulant Heptaminol, but her medal was returned after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled the testing procedure was faulty.

So far, there have been 13 athletes caught through doping tests, with Calle Williams the first cyclist (a Chilean cyclist was withdrawn prior to competition by their federation due to a positive).  None of the athletes are from Canada or the USA.  We have been told anecdotally that many Latin American athletes are surprised at the amount of anti-doping testing that is taking place at these Games.