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Sun Yingjie's sample B also tests positive
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-11-08 08:46
BEIJING (AFP) - The second urine sample of Chinese women's distance runner
Sun Yingjie has tested positive for a banned steroid, with the Olympic 2008
medal hopeful likely to face a multi-year ban.
 "According to a report issued by doping laboratory of the State
Administration of Sports, the results of the investigation into the B sample
were identical with the A sample," a statement posted on China's Olympic
Committee website said Monday.
Sun first tested positive for high concentrations of the male hormone
androsterone following her October 17 second-place finish in the 10,000m race at
the China National Games.
Her urine tests for the marathon, run a day before the 10,000m, were negative
for banned substances, so Sun has been allowed to keep her gold medal for the
marathon.
Despite her adamant denials of any wrong-doing, the two positive tests make
the 2003 world championship 5,000m bronze medalist the highest-profile victim of
China's pre-Olympic doping crackdown.
Some 27 other Chinese athletes have tested positive for banned substances
this year.
The China Athletic Association will hold hearings on the case and could issue
an up to two-year ban on the 26-year-old runner, press reports said.
She was once one of China's top hopes to medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
and the positive test is being seen as a serious blow to China's plans of making
a mark on home turf in track events.
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