Daiane dos Santos to be Punished for Testing Positive for Banned Substance February 5
The 2003 World floor champion tested positive for furosemide (a banned diuretic used primarily for weight loss)last summer and is awaiting word on the International Gymnastics Federation’s (FIG) disciplinary commission’s decision on how to punish her for the positive test. Like other diuretics, furosemide eliminates water in the body by causing urination, which then often leads to weight loss. Dos Santos was recovering from knee surgery last summer and later admitted to using furosemide as part of a beauty treatment to reduce localized fat.Dos Santos said that she wasn’t planning to return to competition for several months while her knee healed, and so hadn’t considered she might be tested.
Gymnasts can be banned from competition for up to two years for getting positive results on a doping test. Dos Santos made history by becoming the first Brazilian woman to win a gold medal at a World Gymnastics Championship and was also the first woman to complete an Arabian double layout on floor exercise, a skill she debuted at the 2004 Olympics.
Dos Santos has intends to continue training for the 2012 London Olympics, and plans to end her career there.
Tags: ban, Dos Santos, Drug Testing, gymnastics