Pakistani powerlifter banned for two years

Beijing, Sept 09: A Pakistani powerlifter has been banned for two years after failing a doping test, the first athlete to test positive for the Beijing Paralympics.Naveed Ahmed Butt tested positive for the steroid methandienone metabolites, the International Paralympic Committee said in a statement on Tuesday.

The urine sample was taken on September 4, two days before the opening ceremony. "In accordance with the IPC anti-doping code, and after a hearing of the IPC anti-doping committee, the IPC ratified the decision to disqualify Butt from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games," the statement said, adding that a two-year ban had been imposed. Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC's medical and scientific director, said Butt's accreditation was also being cancelled. The IPC has said it plans about 1,000 in- and out-of -competition tests on both blood and urine. Bureau Report