SÃO PAULO (BDCi) – Olympic and world swimming champion Cesar Cielo has tested positive for the banned substance furosemide but escaped suspension, the Brazilian Aquatic Sports Confederation (CBDA) said on Friday.
Furosemide is used to help peope lose weight and also can mask the presence of other banned drugs, notably anabolic steroids.
Cielo, the world record holder in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events, and three other swimmers tested positive for the diuretic at the Brazilian national championships in May and had been warned, the CBDA added.
The CBDA named the other three swimmers as Nicholas Santos, Henrique Barbosa and Vinicius Waked.
The Brazilian swimmer who won the gold medal in the 50 meter freestyle in Beijing, said in a statement that at a hearing of the CBDA he was able to prove a supplement he regularly took was contaminated.
Cielo also was stripped of the five gold medals and a silver he won at the Rio event. The other three swimmers lost a total of 12 medals.
One of Cielo’s biggest rivals, Frenchman Alain Bernard, dubbed the news “bad for world swimming”.
“I’m surprised, like everyone,” Bernard said. “At first view, the Brazilian federation’s sanction seems rather light.”
By: Adrianna Lobo Source: Reuters July 2nd, 2011
3:10 a.m. PDT