ITA concludes sample re-analysis for London 2012 Olympics

Lausanne, Switzerland | Xinhua | The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced Monday the finalization of the re-analysis of samples from the Olympic Games London 2012, which resulted in 73 anti-doping rule violations.

As a result of the program, 31 medals of the London 2012 were withdrawn and 46 medals in four sports were reallocated, said the ITA, an independent anti-doping organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“The cases uncovered and sanctioned through the London 2012 re-analysis program were mostly for anabolic steroids detected through the new ‘long-term metabolite (LTM) test’, an analytical method that was not yet available during the initial analysis of the samples in 2012,” said the ITA in a news release on Monday.

“A total number of 2,727 samples were re-analysed. Most of the 73 anti-doping rule violations stemming from the re-analysis program are due to this scientific advancement.

The IOC has withdrawn 31 medals handed out to athletes that are now proven to have committed an anti-doping rule violation and reallocated 46 medals to subsequent legitimate winners in weightlifting (22), wrestling (4), athletics (18) and canoe (2),” according to the statement.