IOC catches 2 wrestlers doping at Youth Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Two 17-year-old wrestlers, including a silver medalist, failed doping tests at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and have been disqualified by the International Olympic Committee

The IOC said Friday that Nurbek Hakkulov of Uzbekistan and Johnny Pilay from Ecuador tested positive for the banned diuretic furosemide in urine samples taken after their events in August.

Hakkulov won a silver medal in the boys Greco-Roman 50-kilogram class, while Pilay was fifth in the freestyle 63kg division.

Pilay has since been banned for two years by the anti-doping panel of Ecuador's Olympic committee.

The IOC said it has asked wrestling's governing body, known as FILA, and Uzbek and Ecuadorean Olympic officials to investigate the circumstances of the failed tests, and speak with coaches and team doctors.

"The IOC is placing strong emphasis on investigating the entourage of the athletes," it said in a statement. "The IOC also clearly indicated that the two young athletes should be provided with some additional support and information on the danger of doping."

In its rulings, the IOC's disciplinary panel said FILA should consider the amount of cooperation the boys give in the investigations before deciding on the bans they must serve.

Hakkulov's silver medal could be awarded to third-placed Shadybek Sulaimanov of Kyrgyzstan, while Cuba's Johan Rodriguez Banguela could move up from fourth to the bronze-medal position.

The IOC said it conducted 1,231 doping tests during the inaugural youth games.

Samples are frozen for eight years and stored for future analysis in the event that new tests are developed.