When the Brazilian team traveled to the FINA Short Course World Championships in Istanbul last week, there was one last-minute change to their roster that was probably unnoticed by most of the world, but raised red flags domestically.
That man suddenly absent was 22-year old Diego Prado, as hearings were underway in Brazil for positive doping tests for him and one other Brazilian, Leonardo Sumida, whose punishments were handed down today. (Prado was replaced by Felipe Lima, which is why the change went unnoticed, because Lima is a much better-known name, though Prado was rapidly improving). Both tests were taken at the Open Tournament in early November that served as Brazil’s final qualifying for Worlds, and both samples were sent to a Canadian lab for testing.
Prado tested positive for the banned substance stanozol, a synthetic anabolic steroid. As compared to other banned substances, which have training benefits or masking benefits, stanozol is a classic, performance-enhancing steroid. It’s ideal for increasing swimming speed as it causes strength gain without adding excess weight.
In addition to losing his results from that meet and a spot on the World Championships team, he was given a two-year ban, effective December 4th, 2012.
His best meet was the one he was tested at where he swam a 26.65 in the 50 SCM breaststroke, which would have ranked him 15th in the world this year had the time stood. That was by far the best meet of his career. He was also the third-ranked 100 SCM IM’er in Brazil this year, with a 53.47 from May.
Leonardo Sumida tested positive for marijuana. The CBDA board ruled that he did not use the substance to gain an advantage, and per FINA rules, because Sumida admitted to using the substance, he received only a 3-month ban. His ban began on December 14th, 2012.
Sumida was a backstroker with best long course times of 55.81 and 2:03.60.
That now marks total of 11 positive tests for the Brazilians in 2011 and 2012; among those that we know about (reported to FINA, announced publicly, hearings completed, etc.) that is by far the most of any country in terms of aquatic athletes.
Does anybody know what the USA Swimming or FINA punishment is for a kid selling weed to teammates at the pool? 3 month suspension too?
beachmouse,
I am sad about USATF covering, because i was always a big fan of Carl Lewis. Flo Jo case was a big scandal… it will be very hard to see a woman beating her 10.49 and 21.34 times.And sadly, she died of a heart attack at what, 38?
About brazilian doping:
CBDA must do more out of competition tests, to catch cheaters who are cleaver, in a matter of doping.I would do doping tests one or two weeks BEFORE competition.
Where are the articles proving that Carl Lewis cheated.?
(checks to see if Ye Shiwen was Brazilian)
Nothing to see here! We’re good!
Carl Lewis
Armstrong
Probably the 2 biggest cheaters ever.. so?
At least you said “not to defend Brazil” before you started pointing the finger at anyone BUT all the Brazilians failing drug tests.
Those two were approached in two totally different ways. We’ve got good evidence that USATF covered up a lot of drug tests in the 80s, including Carl Lewis. (And doe anyone seriously think that Flo Jo was clean?)
But USADA, convinced that something was hinky with Armstrong, spent years and a good chunk of their budget trying to find the truth about what was going on with him all the while the doctors and dopers stayed two steps ahead of anti-doping as usual. Until clear evidence finally came out about his doping, it actually rather could look like a vendetta against him as he claimed. (And he was such a polished liar to press and fans.)
For all that… Read more »
I Agree.. but the first problem is that the fed has a VERY small budget..
And the second is.. the presidents of the local federations are the same for decades.. it´s a cycle as corrupt as IOC, FINA or FIFA.
They don´t have money for small meets, same for keeping track of athletes..
They run it on a very amateur way.. both on organization and legislation.. on CBDA code there is a rule that a relay open time can´t be counted as record..
To comply better here we would need to change ALL the olympic sports committes, because most of them one spend time covering the back of others.. and have more money..
Beach.. I Don´t think Brazil doping cases are so much of a systematic thing..
It is a scandal.. but not a system.
When you check all State or Private Oriente Doping Scandals (US and Russia Track&Field, Almost all cycling industry, China Swimming and German Swimming Female squads from the past)
Almost all the dopers where people that were olympic medal locks.. and the entire team was on the same boat..
The Brazilian doping case is much more like the new China Doping cases, and if you take the exception of Cielo, who are the medal locks for any world or olympic who were caught? Most of the caught ones are swimmers that even with the doping could never be… Read more »
You forgot Marion Jones
And just for the record.. who else we know was caught using marijuana and did not receive any punishment??
Marijuana is different though since it doesn’t improve performance….if you use it (or any other recreational drugs) whilst you are competing then you’re an idiot, not a cheat.
The argument for marijuana enhancing performance is that it calms nerves. Definitely way more significant in something like golf or diving than swimming, but probably not totally a non-advantage either.
But I agree, I don’t imagine any swimmers are really using marijuana for an advantage, and I also agree that there are literally hundreds of swimmers who probably use it and are never caught.
Phelps did receive a punishment…the same 3 months in fact. However it was not reported to FINA as a violation, you’re right on that account.
Was he tested which would go to FINA or was he given the 3 months based on the picture of the incident which is different.?
I do not believe Phelps failed a test. He was punished by USA Swimming solely on the basis of the photo and Phelps’ admission.
Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Not that FINA would ever actually do anything to hold anyone accountable, but what are the criteria for a federation getting itself smacked around for excessive positive doping tests again?
We’re beyond the point of ‘at least they’re reporting everything to WADA and not covering it up’ and on to the absurd. If they weren’t hosting the Olympics in 2016 or if FINA actually had cojones, we should be talking a federation level suspension from sanctioned competition here.
Not to defend Brazil.. but if any Agency had Cojones all Us Track & Field team were to be suspendes in the past.. China Swim Squads.. 99% of All the Cycling Squads.. just to take the most recent cases..
They won´t suspend Brazil ( or any country ) because they would see fingers appointed to them because of all the past years (IOC especially) and would be put in a tight spot..
Beachmouse – there are no “punish the federation” rules in the current code for individual sports. Article 11 says that there can be additional sanctions if a team has 3 or more positive tests during an “event period,” but for the purposes of that rule, a collection of individual competitors doesn’t constitute a team. Has to be a team sport like basketball or soccer.
A shame! In a country that is going to host the next Olympic Games!