Posted: September 29, 2007

Athletics (RRW): No Decision In Ceplak EPO Case, Hearing To Continue

From David Monti © 2007 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com By Bob Ramsak LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – The doping hearing of Slovenia’s Olympic 800m bronze medallist Jolanda Ceplak will be extended after the national athletics federation was unable to reach a decision at the runner’s hearing today. “We were not able to reach a conclusion,” said Dr. Tadej Malovrh, head of the Slovenian Athletics Federation’s (AZS) Anti-Doping commission following a three hour initial hearing this morning in the Slovenian capital. The 30-year-old Ceplak, the world indoor record holder in the 800m, tested positive for the banned blood booster EPO after an out-of-competition test in Monte Carlo on June 18. The B sample test confirmed the A sample finding, resulting in a provisional suspension by the sport’s international governing body, the IAAF, on July 26. Malovrh said the commission largely dismissed Ceplak’s claims of minor procedural errors in the sample protocol, but that a possible irregularity with the collection and handling of Ceplak’s urine sample was identified following the testimony of a witness who was with Ceplak in her apartment in Monte Carlo on the morning the sample was taken. “From the hearing it was evident that there is a strong possibility that proper procedures with the sample collection were not followed,” Malovrh said. The commission will now request testimony from the two individuals who collected Ceplak’s sample on the morning of June 18, “Since,” Malovrh said, “there exists the possibility of human error.” No date has been set for the follow-up hearing, but according to federation rules, it must be conducted by November 20, with a final decision announced by December 18. Malovrh emphasized that the commission is not questioning the sample’s positive finding. “It’s not likely that it was a false positive,” he said, but added that not following proper handling protocols can impact the result of a test result. “We want to ensure a fair proceeding for Ms. Ceplak.” The news of her doping charge and subsequent provisional suspension in July shocked this tiny alpine nation of 2 million, where Ceplak is by far the most popular and well-known female athlete. Ceplak was not present at the press conference following the hearing. Additionally, Malovrh said the commission will also hear testimony from a biochemistry expert and from Dr. Rastko Stok, a national team doctor and also one of Ceplak’s personal physicians. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest