Spanish skater caught in shock new scandal after Winter Olympics
The Winter Olympics have been hit by fresh scandal three days after the event finished, with Spanish figure skater Laura Barquero caught in a doping storm.
Barquero has become the fifth athlete to fail a doping test at the Beijing Games after testing positive for the banned steroid clostebol.
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The International Testing Agency announced the news on Tuesday, three days after the final events wrapped up in Beijing.
The 20-year-old Barquero and partner Marco Zandron finished 11th in the pairs competition, which finished on Saturday.
The ITA said her positive sample was given after the short program on Friday and the case will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"The athlete has been informed of the case. She has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample," the ITA said in a statement.
Barquero has joined Iranian Alpine skier Hossein Saveh Shemshaki and two Ukrainians - cross-country skier Valentyna Kaminska and bobsledder Lidiia Hunko in testing positive at the Beijing Games.
Fifteen-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva was at the centre of major scandal during the Olympics because a sample she gave before the Games came back positive for a banned substance.
Valieva was allowed to keep skating in Beijing in part because her age gives her extra rights in anti-doping matters.
She could yet be stripped of the gold medal she won in the team event before the lab analysis was reported.
Kamila Valieva thanks coaches and supporters
Valieva thanked her coaches and supporters on social media on Wednesday following the scandal that erupted over her positive doping test.
The figure skater and her Russian teammates received a hero's welcome home this week, celebrated at a ceremony in their home land.
Valieva fell several times in the individual event to miss out on a medal, finishing fourth despite being the overwhelming favourite.
Coach Eteri Tutberidze then copped a raft of criticism in the aftermath of Valieva's stunning series of falls, with IOC boss Thomas Bach describing her reaction as "chilling".
But in a series of Instagram posts on Monday, Valieva thanked her coaches Tutberidze and Daniil Gleikhengauz.
“You are absolute masters at what you do! You not only train, but also teach how to overcome yourself, which helps not only in sport but also in life,” Valieva wrote alongside a photo of herself and her coaches at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“With you by my side, I feel protected and able to overcome any ordeals. Thank you for helping me to be strong."
In a separate message to fans, Valieva wrote: “I want to thank everyone who has been with me during this tough period: who was by my side and did not let me lose heart, who sent me supportive messages, who was just thinking of me, who prayed, who believed me and in me.
“Thank you, my fans, my family and friends, my coaches, the entire ROC team, my country, and people from all over the world.
“THANK YOU ALL!!!! I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!! I will always remember this, be grateful to you and skate for you.”
with agencies
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