German Athlete Fails Sochi Olympic Drug Test

SOCHI, February 21 (R-Sport) – A German athlete has failed a drug test at the Sochi Olympics, officials said Friday, in what is the first public acknowledgement of possible doping at the Games.

The unnamed athlete gave a sample which “yielded a result that deviated from the norm,” the German Olympic committee said in a statement.

An International Olympic Committee disciplinary hearing has been set for later Friday at which the athlete’s “B” sample results will be revealed, the German organization said.

The German Olympic committee said it had been informed of the failed test Thursday. It did not say which event the athlete was competing in at the Sochi Olympics.

No other athletes are known to have failed tests at the Sochi Olympics, although Russian biathlete Irina Starykh was withdrawn from her country’s team prior to the Games after failing a drug test.

Germany is third in the medal table with eight gold medals, four silvers and four bronze.