World Olympians Association Loses Exec Member to Doping

(ATR) The World Olympians Association says it is extremely "saddened and disappointed" to learn that Tatyana Lebedeva is being sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC found that the Russian long and triple jumper violated the anti-doping code at the Beijing 2008 Olympics with retests of her urine samples. Lebedeva finished with two silvers in Beijing which now must be returned to the IOC.

Lebedeva, a five-time Olympic medalist before the sanctions, will resign from her position as an executive committee member of the WOA. The WOA said it takes the protection of clean athletes very seriously and has a zero tolerance for cheating.

"WOA is calling an urgent meeting of its Executive Committee to discuss this matter, including possible WOA sanctions, in accordance with its constitution and its zero tolerance stance on drug cheats."

Lebedeva was one of 18 executive committee members before her resignation on Wednesday. This is the first instance of a WOA executive violating the anti-doping code since the organization was founded in 1995.

Lebedeva leaves the WOA after less than two years of service with the organization that supports more than 100,000 Olympians worldwide. The Russian athlete was added to the executive board along with three others in October 2015 when WOA president Joel Bouzou was reelected as the organization’s leader.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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