Ms. Cristina Iovu is a Moldovan Athlete competing in the Women’s 53 kg weightlifting event at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In 2016, the IOC decided to perform further analyses on certain samples collected during the 2012 Olympic Games. These additional analyses were performed with analytical methods which were not available in 2012.
In July 2016 the International Olympic Committee reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after her 2012 A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).
In July 2016 the IOC was informed that the Athlete changed her nationality for Azerbaijan after the 2012 Olympic Games. The IOC was also advised that the Athlete competed in the last European Championships for Romania. The International Weightlifting Federation reported to the IOC that the Athlete represented the Weightlifting Federation of Romania since February 2016.
After notification the Athlete submitted that she accepted the test results; that she will not file a statement in her defence; and she waived his right to be heard.
The Commission concludes that the Athlete has committed an anti-doping rule violation consistent with intentional use of a prohibited substance specifically ingested to deliberately improve performance. The fact that the metabolite of a doping substance, which is a “classical” doping substance, was found, supports this consideration.
Therefore the IOC Disciplinary Commission decides on 10 November 2016 that the Athlete, Cristina Iovu:
1.) is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London in 2012 (presence, and/or use, of Prohibited Substances or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
2.) is disqualified from the event in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games London 2012, namely the Women’s 53 kg weightlifting event, in which she ranked 3rd and for which she was awarded the bronze medal,
3.) has the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma obtained the Women’s 53 kg weightlifting event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
4.) The IWF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
5.) The Olympic and Sports Committee of the Republic of Moldova shall ensure full implementation of this decision and shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma awarded in connection with the Women’s 53 kg weightlifting event to the Athlete.
6.) This decision enters into force immediately.
