Bosnia & Herzogovina swimmer Jovan Lekic has been given a two-year anti-doping suspension after twice testing positive for the banned substance Higenamine in the summer of 2021. His suspension officially took hold on October 26, 2021 and will run through October 25, 2023.
Higenamine is a substance found in a number of plants and is used in sports and weight loss dietary supplements sold in the US. The substance is legal to use in food supplements in the UK, EU, USA, and Canada, and has roots in ancient Chinese medicine and modern traditional medicine. The substance, like many Beta 2 agonists, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Code.
The 18-year old first tested positive after a sample collection at a high-level domestic meet on June 26, and then two weeks later on July 10, tested positive again at the European Junior Championships.
At the domestic meet in Belgrade, Lekic finished 2nd in the 100 freestyle in a new best time of 51.11, which cut .66 seconds off his previous best time from April. At the European Junior Championships in July, he won a pair of individual medals: silver in the 400 free and bronze in the 200 free. He also swam the 800 free (4th), 1500 free (6th), and 100 fly (56.01).
His results from both events will be vacated and his medals will be redistributed. He won 2 of his country’s 5 medals – Lana Pudar won the rest, 1 gold and 2 silvers, in the women’s butterfly events.
Medal Movements:
- 200 free: Germany’s Timo Sorgius (1:48.60) moves up to bronze.
- 400 free: Czech Republic’s David Koutny (3:51.06) moves up to silver, Norway’s Jon Joentvedt (3:51.54) moves up to bronze.
Joentvedt’s medal becomes Norway’s only medalist of the 2021 meet, and their first since 2018 where Tomoe Hvas won silver in the 50 fly. Norway now has 8 medals all-time at the event.
Without his awards, the country falls from 10th in the medals standings to 12th.
Updated Medals Table:
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Russia | 11 | 9 | 6 | 26 |
| 2 | Turkey | 7 | 5 | 3 | 15 |
| 3 | Poland | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 4 | Italy* | 3 | 1 | 7 | 11 |
| 5 | Romania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Great Britain | 2 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| 7 | Hungary | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 8 | Bulgaria | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | Ukraine | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| 10 | Germany | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 11 | France | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | Estonia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Lithuania | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 | Czech Republic | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
|
17
|
Croatia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Portugal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Serbia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
|
20
|
Belgium | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Greece | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Israel | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Norway | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (23 nations) | 42 | 43 | 42 | 127 | |
When it says twice tested positive does that mean A&B samples or 2 times over a period ?
2 times over a period.
The unfortunate thing is that this also throws a dark cloud over other swimmers and possibly coaches from that area/club.
Very sad to see this from such a young swimmer, but I fear it’s just the beginning post covid. I hope I am wrong, but back in the summer many of us had commented on the remarkably good results for junior swimmers from nations that had previously never really figured at Euro Juniors, and many of the historically dominant nations’ swimmers looked miles off the pace.
The problem with these situations is that, such as your comment getting dislikes even though no discriminatory remark was made, these conversations cannot be had without racism or stereotype comments being made. The suggestion that the pandemic could have been abused is entirely logical but movements wont be made to ensure a safe and fair sport due to fear of public/ community reactions against the “whistleblowers”.
what are you on?:)))
Pity to see such promising mid-distance potential lost to doping, hope other talents from BIH can rise up
Very sad to see that young swimmers under 18 feel the need for doping.