Brazilian Ramos, China’s Chen barred from Rio Games for doping

Brazilian cyclist Kleber Ramos and Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi were disqualified from the Olympic Games on Thursday for having failed doping tests, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said.

Ramos tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO Cera while Chen took the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide.

Diuretics are outlawed as they can be used as masking agents for other doping products.

The Brazilian tested positive in a pre-Games test, although the news only emerged after he had competed in the men’s road race 10 days ago.

Last Friday, Xinhua news agency said that Chen had tested positive after her fourth-placed finish in the women’s 100m butterfly on August 7.

She was provisionally suspended and scratched from the 50m freestyle with her case still pending.

In both cases, CAS said “the athlete is disqualified and excluded from the Olympic Games Rio 2016”.

CAS added that it is up to the International Cycling Union (UCI) and International Swimming Federation (FINA) to decide on the athletes’ punishments following the Games.

Earlier on Thursday, CAS said Kyrgyzstani weightlifter Izzat Artykov had been banned after testing positive for strychnine, a stimulant.

The 22-year-old, who won bronze in the under-69kg division, became the first athlete excluded from the Rio Olympics for doping.

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