GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Canadian wakeboard silver medalist Aaron Rathy tested positive for a banned stimulant, the first person to fail a drug test during competition at the Pan American Games.
Rathy tested positive for methylhexaneamine, organizers said Friday. His medal was withdrawn and he was disqualified from the competition.
"The athlete is cooperating fully, has accepted responsibility and apologized for the inadvertent use of a banned substance," the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement. "While the COC does not condone the use of banned substances, we are supporting the athlete's right to a fair hearing and due process."
The 2009 world wakeboard champion blamed a supplement, which bills itself as a fat-burner, for the positive test.
“I'd like to apologize to the Canadian Olympic Committee and coaching staff,” Rathy said in a statement issued by Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada. “I am deeply sorry, and was completely unaware of the banned substance in the OxyElite Pro I had taken. I purchased the product at a GNC health food store and, to my knowledge, was all safe to take. It was a privilege to compete for Team Canada at the Pan-Am Games and it was never my intention to cause any damage or inconvenience.”
According to the Canadian Olympic Commitee, the Pan American Sport Organization's Disciplinary Commission Panel held a hearing Friday and made its decision.
In November 2010, Canada's doping watchdog warned athletes that supplements containing methylhexaneamine were "widely available in the Canadian market and have been the source of many doping violations worldwide over the last year."
Below are the adjusted results from the wakeboarding event at the Pan Am Games...
Pan Am Wakeboard Finals
1. ADKISON Andrew Scott (USA) - 80.00
2. GIARDI Marcelo (BRA) - 65.90
3. DE PALMA Alejo (ARG) - 65.11
4. GARIZURIETA Jorge Enrique (MEX) - 57.34
5. VELEZ Juan Martin (COL) - 45.44
6. BAZAN Jamie Geovanny (ECU) - 38.11
7. HARMSEN Sebastian (PER) - 22.89
8. RATHY Aaron Christopher (CAN) - DSQ (score was 72.67)
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