FILE - In this Saturday, Sept 30, 2000 file photo Russia's Viacheslav Ekimov, center, winner of the gold medal in the men's individual time trials, celebrates with Germany's silver medal winner Jan Ullrich, left, and U.S bronze medal winner Lance Armstrong at the cycling road course in Sydney, for the Summer Olympic Games. Officials familiar with the decision tell The Associated Press the IOC has stripped Lance Armstrong of his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of his involvement in doping. Two officials say the IOC sent a letter to Armstrong on Wednesday night Jan. 16, 2013, asking him to return the medal. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)
-
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept 30, 2000 file photo Russia's Viacheslav Ekimov, center, winner of the gold medal in the men's individual time trials, celebrates with Germany's silver medal winner Jan Ullrich, left, and U.S bronze medal winner Lance Armstrong at the cycling road course in Sydney, for the Summer Olympic Games. Officials familiar with the decision tell The Associated Press the IOC has stripped Lance Armstrong of his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of his involvement in doping. Two officials say the IOC sent a letter to Armstrong on Wednesday night Jan. 16, 2013, asking him to return the medal. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours, File)
-
FILE - In a Sept. 30, 2000 file photo, U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong waves after receiving the bronze medal in the men's individual time trials at the 2000 Summer Olympics cycling road course in Sydney, Australia. Officials familiar with the decision tell The Associated Press the IOC has stripped Armstrong of his bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics because of his involvement in doping. Two officials say the IOC sent a letter to Armstrong on Wednesday night, Jan. 16, 2013, asking him to return the medal. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
-
This Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 photo provided by Harpo Studios Inc., shows talk-show host Oprah Winfrey interviewing cyclist Lance Armstrong during taping for the show "Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive" in Austin, Texas. The two-part episode of "Oprah's Next Chapter" will air nationally Thursday and Friday, Jan. 17-18, 2013. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Harpo Studios, Inc., George Burns)
-
FILE - An Aug. 10, 2012 photo from files showing Uzbekistan's Soslan Tigiev, in red, competing against Hungary's Gabor Hatos for the bronze medal during a 74-kg men's freestyle wrestling competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The Olympic wrestler from Uzbekistan has been stripped of his bronze medal from the London Games because of a positive doping test, officials familiar with the case told The Associated Press on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. Two officials with knowledge of the decision said the International Olympic Committee disqualified Soslan Tigiev, a freestyle wrestler who won bronze in the 74-kilogram class. The officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the ruling hasn't been announced yet. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
-
FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2012, file phto, bonze medalist Soslan Tigiev, of Uzbekistan, participates in the medals ceremony for men's 74-kg freestyle wrestling competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Two officials with knowledge of the decision said on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, that the International Olympic Committee has disqualified Tigiev. Tigiev tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, and the result wasn't confirmed until after the games finished Aug. 12, the officials said. The officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the ruling hasn't been announced yet. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
-
FILE - In a Sept. 30, 2000 file photo, U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong waves after receiving the bronze medal in the men's individual time trials at the 2000 Summer Olympics cycling road course in Sydney, Australia. The IOC formally opened an investigation Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, that could result in Lance Armstrong being stripped of his Olympic bronze medal for doping. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
-
Italian race walker Alex Schwazer, center, leaves the Coni headquarters with his lawyer Gerhard Brandstaetter, right, and his manager Giulia Mancini, left, in Rome, Tuesday Oct. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
-
Italian race walker Alex Schwazer faces reporters as he leaves the Coni (Italian Olympic Committee) headquarters in Rome Tuesday Oct. 30, 2012 , where he was questioned after he failed a doping test before the London Olympics. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
-
Italian race walker Alex Schwazer arrives at the Coni ( Italian Olympic Committee) headquarters in Rome Tuesday Oct. 30, 2012 to be questioned after he failed a doping test before the London Olympics. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Vijender refuses samples to test for illicit drugs
NEW DELHI (
AP) — Indian Olympic boxer
Vijender Singh has refused to provide blood and hair samples to establish whether he used illicit drugs linked to a police investigation of heroin worth more than $25 million confiscated from an international criminal network.
"As per the procedure, in the presence of two private witnesses, he was asked for his consent for giving his blood and hair samples required for forensic examination for investigation purpose, which he refused," senior Punjab Police officer Hardyal Singh Mann said in a statement late Monday.
There is no police case against India's only Olympic medal-winning boxer, but a forensic examination could have established whether he used drugs.
Police questioned Vijender after his sparring partner Ram Singh claimed the pair had used heroin bought from the people arrested in the drugs haul on several occasions.
Ram has subsequently been expelled from the National Institute of Sports in the northern city of Patiala.
Vijender, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, is himself a police officer in the neighboring state of Haryana.
The three-time Olympian has dismissed Ram's claims of drugs use and has reportedly offered to be tested by the National Anti-Doping Agency, which is affiliated to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
However, the NADA is not expected to test Vijender since it tests athletes for heroin only during competitions.
Meanwhile, sports minister Jitender Singh said action would be taken against Vijender if he is found guilty of drug use.
"At this point of time, Punjab Police is investigation the matter," Singh told reporters. "When somebody is implicated, we will definitely take action."
Tags:
international olympic committee, national institute, beijing, 2008 summer olympics, summer olympic games, olympic games, crime, india, drugs, business, police investigation, new delhi, bronze medal, 2008 beijing, forensic examination, illicit drugs, northern city, beijing national stadium, late monday night, hair samples, boxer vijender singh, hardyal singh mann, vijender, partner ram singh, olympic medal-winning boxer, international criminal network
Print Page
