Two prominent Dominican athletes have been banned this weekend from the Pan American Games after having both tested positive for banned substances by the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee. Pitcher Jose Jimenez has tested positive for anabolic steroids and the boxer Rafael Fernandez Sosa had elevated levels of testosterone of epitestosterone found in samples taken before they both traveled to Rio de Janeiro to compete in the games which are commencing next week.The Olympic Committee issued a brief statement saying “The athletes displayed an adverse result in the examinations that we made previous to the Pan American games, and for that reason they are not eligible to attend.
Jimenez and Fernandez were not available to the media for comment and the Caribbean nation’s committee has not yet disclosed whether disciplinary measures will be taken against both men.
An expected 5,500 athletes minus 2 from the Dominican Republic from 42 nations will be competing in the Pan American Games which are to be held in Brazil during the 13th to the 29th of July 2007.
