Penalties commuted for Vietnamese athletes in doping scandal
VOV.VN - Results Management Council and an agency responsible for taking samples for doping tests at SEA Games 31 decided on May 11 to reduce penalties for five Vietnamese runners that tested positive for banned substances at SEA Games 31 last year.
According to the latest decision, Quach Thi Lan, who had been banned from sports, saw her punishment commuted from 28 months to 18 months. Meanwhile, the ban for Khuat Phuong Anh was cut from 24 months to 18 months, for Vu Ngoc Ha from 24 months to 16 months, for Le Ngoc Phuc from 24 months to 16 months, and for Hoang Thi Ngoc from 24 months to 18 months.
Along with these changes, the titles of the athletes at SEA Games 31 will be revoked and subsequently given to the runners-up in accordance with the regulations.
The names of five Vietnamese runners that tested positive for banned substances at SEA Games 31 last year were recently revealed by the Vietnam Athletics Federation.
The doping samples were then tested a few months after the event. The athletes’ first test samples proved positive for doping in September and October, 2022, and their second test samples gave similar results a month later.
In a previous report sent to the Department of Physical Education and Sports, the athletes explained they had not intentionally used banned substances, but accidentally taken a medicine after doctors’ consultation without knowing that the medicine contains the banned substances.