Lithuanian marathoner Balciunaite denies doping
Source: Agencies |
November 3, 2010, Wednesday
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EUROPEAN marathon champion Zivile Balciunaite of Lithuania denied allegations that she took performance-enhancing drugs, saying yesterday that test results may have been skewed by a prescription drug.
Balciunaite, who won the marathon at the European Championships in Barcelona in July, was suspended last week by the Athletics Federations of Lithuania on suspicion of doping.
The federation said that it had been informed by the International Association of Athletics Federations that a urine test taken in Barcelona had uncovered excessive levels of testosterone, a male steroid, and epitestosterone, a natural steroid.
Balciunaite suggested the test may have been influenced by the drug Duphaston prescribed by her gynecologist, which she had taken at the time.
"For the first time in my career I had to take this drug at a championship to relieve menstrual pains," the 31-year-old runner told Lithuanian Radio. "I felt very bad before the run and decided to take the pill. It could not affect my performance since I had used the medication since 2003."
Balciunaite has been suspended until the end of the investigation, which is expected to conclude in December.
Her coach, Romas Sausaitis, also proclaimed her innocence.
"We didn't do anything wrong, and we will prove it," Sausaitis said. "Of course, the damage to Zivile is already done, but we hope everything will be cleared up after the tests are completed."
If found guilty, Balciunaite could be suspended for two years.
Balciunaite, who won the marathon at the European Championships in Barcelona in July, was suspended last week by the Athletics Federations of Lithuania on suspicion of doping.
The federation said that it had been informed by the International Association of Athletics Federations that a urine test taken in Barcelona had uncovered excessive levels of testosterone, a male steroid, and epitestosterone, a natural steroid.
Balciunaite suggested the test may have been influenced by the drug Duphaston prescribed by her gynecologist, which she had taken at the time.
"For the first time in my career I had to take this drug at a championship to relieve menstrual pains," the 31-year-old runner told Lithuanian Radio. "I felt very bad before the run and decided to take the pill. It could not affect my performance since I had used the medication since 2003."
Balciunaite has been suspended until the end of the investigation, which is expected to conclude in December.
Her coach, Romas Sausaitis, also proclaimed her innocence.
"We didn't do anything wrong, and we will prove it," Sausaitis said. "Of course, the damage to Zivile is already done, but we hope everything will be cleared up after the tests are completed."
If found guilty, Balciunaite could be suspended for two years.
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