Olympics

Jamaican medallist caught in retesting of 2008 Beijing Olympic samples

A Jamaican athlete is reportedly among the 31 Olympians caught for a doping violation in the retesting of samples from the 2008 Games in Beijing, with one of the country's 11 medals potentially in danger of being stripped.

Sprint king Usain Bolt reported not to be involved; 15 others in question

The IOC said that 31 athletes in six sports have tested positive in reanalysis of their doping samples from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The International Olympic Committee said it has opened disciplinary proceedings against the unidentified athletes from 12 countries. (Petr David Josek/The Associated Press)

A Jamaican athlete is reportedly among the 31 Olympians caught for a doping violation in the retesting of samples from the 2008 Games in Beijing.

The unnamed athlete's "A" sample from the Beijing Olympics tested positive, according to a story filed by Reuters. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is currently awaiting the results of the "B" sample test.

An unconfirmed report published in the Jamaica Observer claims that the athlete tested positive for methylhexanamine. The stimulant was added to WADA's banned list in 2009. Five Jamaican athletes, including sprinter Yohan Blake, were caught using methylhexanamine in 2009, but were cleared by the Jamaica Anti-Doping commission because of the drug's status at the time.

According to the Jamaica Gleaner, at least one of the country's 11 medals — all won in track and field — is in jeopardy of being stripped. However,  The Telegraph reported that sprint champion Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals in Beijing, is not the athlete in question.

The following 15 athletes also won medals for Jamaica at the 2008 Olympics:

  • Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce​ (1 gold)

  • Melaine Walker (1 gold)

  • Veronica Campbell-Brown (1 gold)

  • Dwight Thomas (1 gold)

  • Michael Frater (1 gold)

  • Nesta Carter (1 gold)

  • Asafa Powell (1 gold)

  • Sherone Simpson (1 silver)

  • Kerron Stewart (1 silver)

  • Shericka Williams (1 silver, 1 bronze)

  • Kerron Stewart (1 bronze)

  • Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (1 bronze)

  • Shereefa Lloyd (1 bronze)

  • Rosemarie Whyte (1 bronze)

  • Novlene Williams (1 bronze)

This revelation comes after reigning high jump champion Anna Chicherova was named along with 13 other Russian athletes who were caught in sweeping retests by the International Olympic Committee. The 31 athletes in question from 2008 are vying for contention at the upcoming Games in Rio.

Retests of samples from the 2012 Summer Games have revealed 23 positive A-sample results. Among these athletes is Evgeniia Kolodko, a Russian shot put silver medallist and wife of Canadian Olympian Dylan Armstrong.

With files from The Associated Press