Armenia’s Weightlifting Federation chief says International Federation hasn’t disqualified Khurshudyan

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. General Secretary of Armenia’s Weightlifting Federation Pashik Alaverdyan commented on news about disqualification of Hripsime Khurshudyan.

“The first clarification was made in June, and we were offered to open the second flask. Since we don’t have an expert who would have gone and taken part in the process, we agreed with their decision. Overall 170 people were gathered from various countries, who followed the process. In any sports, decisions on disqualification are made by the Federation. And during the session of the Federation in Malaysia, it was said that we only have to return the medal. The International Olympic Committee cannot disqualify an athlete. We agreed with their decision, however a decision on disqualification must be made by the International Federation, whereas no such decision was made during the session”, he said.

The IOC issued results of re-tested samples from 2012 London Olympics. Armenia’s Khurshudyan - competing in the women’s +75kg weightlifting event in which she ranked 3rd and for which she was awarded a bronze medal, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games London 2012. Re-analysis of Khurshudyan’s samples from London 2012 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substances dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol) and stanozolol. The IOC withdrew Khurshudyan’s medal, disqualified her and ordered the medal to be returned.