Brazilian bobsledder Armando dos Santos has become the first athlete to test positive for a banned performance enhancing drug at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Dos Santos, a former hammer thrower, tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone and has been sent home. The result came from a pre-games doping test conducted by the Brazilian Olympic Committee in January. Further tests confirmed the result this week.
Dos Santos will be replaced on the four-man team by novice Claudinei Quirino, a former track star and silver medalist in the 400-meter relay at the Sydney Olympics six years ago. Brazil is the only tropical bobsled team that qualified for Turin. Training for the four-man event starts next week with competition opening on February 24.