Winter Olympic Officials Kick Out Over 30 Athletes For Doping

Sports News - February 11th, 2010 - Written By John Ritter

No Americans were believed to be involved in the disqualification of over 30 athletes from the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver.

Random drug testing carried out by the the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) identified a large group of participants as performance drug users on Thursday, and have dismissed those athletes from competition.

The dismissals are typical in the days leading up to an Olympics, said WADA director David Howman.

"It's a bit like before Beijing, when 70 athletes didn't go to the Games because they had tested positive beforehand," Howman told The Times. "The pre-Games testing is pretty intensive. We can say it was effective because there are some athletes who didn't come."

The names of the offenders are currently anonymous.

The games are scheduled to begin with the opening ceremonies on Saturday, and will last for two weeks. American skier Lindsay Vonn is currently nursing a sore shin, but will compete in the super-combine slalom on Sunday if healthy. She is favored to win gold in the downhill by most Olympic Betting Lines, and silver in the super-combine. Coverage can be seen on NBC.