Brazilian Olympic panel seeks investigation

Sao Paulo:

The Brazilian Olympic Committee requested a criminal investigation on the doping tests taken by swimmer Rebeca Gusmao during the Pan American Games in July.

In a petition sent to Rio de Janeiro's Public Safety Department on Monday, BOC president Carlos Arthur Nuzman requested "an investigation into eventual crimes" on the procedures involving Gusmao's tests.

Gusmao, a double gold medalist at the Pan Ams, was temporarily suspended last week by FINA for testing positive for testosterone in an out-of-competition test on July 13.

Then the Brazilian swimming confederation said there was evidence that Gusmao's urine samples during the games were altered.

The laboratory that conducted the tests said the samples they received appeared to belong to different donors, according to the swimming confederation.

Gusmao won the women's 50-m and 100-m freestyle races, both in Pan Ams Games record times. She also earned two other medals at the Pan Ams.

The 22-year-old Gusmao, who last week denied any wrongdoing, was awaiting a hearing before the FINA doping panel at a date yet to be determined.

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