AGERPRES special correspondent, Adrian Tone, reports: The suspension for doping of the athlete Florentina Iusco, following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which forbids her from participating in the Olympic Games in Paris, brings a shadow of sadness, on Thursday said the president of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committe, Mihai Covaliu.

"Absolutely, it casts a shadow of sadness on today's event (the opening of the Romanian House in Paris, ed. n.), but we cannot deviate from the rules. The rules are the same for everyone regardless of name, whoever breaks the rules does not get off on the plane for the Olympic Games in Paris," Covaliu said.

He added that the institution he leads was officially informed about the suspension received by Iusco.

"As I have said all along, all the athletes have been tested and if in the case of anyone a trace of suspicion surfaces, even if they receive a verdict of attempted doping or any other mistake that is sanctioned by the regulations, they will not get on the plane to the Olympic Games in Paris. This is the regulation for everyone and no one deviates from it, because it must be respected according to the letter of the law," Mihai Covaliu stressed.

The Romanian athlete Florentina Iusco will not be able to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed, on Thursday, partially, an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (AMA/WADA) after the athlete's positive test at a banned substance, Reuters says.

Iusco, an athlete who was going to perform in Paris in the long jump and triple jump, was tested positive for furosemide, a diuretic on the AMA/WADA prohibited list, in an anti-doping control outside the competition in April of last year.

However, the National Anti-Doping Agency (ANAD) sanctioned her with a reprimand and no period of ineligibility on the grounds that she was not guilty or was not negligent.

Notwithstanding, after AMA/WADA appealed this ANAD decision, CAS determined that Iusco had failed to demonstrate the standard required to be granted the status of "not guilty or significant negligence", and imposed a suspension of two years from 1 February 2024.

By suspending Florentina Iusco, Romanian athletics remains with 12 athletes at the 2024 Olympics, and the Romanian delegation with 106 athletes.AGERPRES(RO - editor: Mihai Teneaş EN - editor: Maria Voican)