Olympics-Doping-Bulgarian Yordanova's coach takes blame for ban
SOFIA, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Bulgarian middle-distance runner Daniela Yordanova's coach said on Sunday he was responsible for the positive doping test that resulted in her being barred from the Olympics and blamed contaminated food supplements.
Yordanova was banned late on Friday after she tested positive for testosterone or its precursors from an out-of-competition sample given on June 13 in Sofia.
"It was a big shock for me but I should say I am fully responsible for Daniela's positive test," coach Dimitar Vasilev told reporters in Sofia. "I've always tried to buy medicines for her physical recovery from well-known companies.
"But last spring, I bought some medical goods from Greece and Turkey and most probably they caused the problem. Obviously, she consumed some contaminated food supplements."
Sports ruling bodies have issued high-profile warnings to athletes that they are running the risk of failing drug tests by eating food supplements to give them an extra physical edge.
Despite that many competitors have blamed positive tests on contaminated supplements.
The 32-year-old Yordanova was considered as potential medal winner at 1,500 metres after finishing fifth at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and at the European indoor championships in Valencia in March.
"I was considering retiring after the Beijing Olympics but it would be a pity to do that in such circumstances," a dispirited Yordanova said. "It's such an unpleasant situation and I will need time to realize what happened."
In the last two years, Bulgarian athletics has been marred by several doping scandals, with middle-distance runners Vanya Stambolova and Teodora Kolarova, high jumper Venelina Veneva and hammer thrower Andrian Andreev all testing positive. (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Alex Richardson)
