Olympic Medal in Jeopardy: Rio Bronze Lost to Doping Retest
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An Olympic weightlifter could lose his bronze medal from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
Lithuania's Aurimas Didzbalis faces a potential suspension and the stripping of his medal. The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced he violated anti-doping rules. The violation came from a re-analysis of his sample from the Rio Olympics.
Didzbalis, 31, finished third in the men's 94kg weightlifting event eight years ago. The retest found evidence of a prohibited anabolic agent. Anabolic agents are substances that help build muscle.
The ITA has formally charged Didzbalis. The case now goes to the International Weightlifting Federation for a final decision. If found guilty, his results will be canceled. The bronze medal would then be reassigned to the next eligible athlete.