ATHENS, Sept. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced here on Friday another anti-doping rule violation case, which occurred at the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games.

    Cuban Judoka Sergio Arturo Perez Hechevarria of men's 60kg, 35,"returned an adverse analytical finding of a glucocorticosteroid agent, prednisolone, which is on the 2004 list of prohibited substances in-competition," the IPC said.

    The urine sample was taken during the in-competition period, onSeptember 18, 2004.

    The Cuban was the third athlete at the Athens games to have been caught of doping. Azerbaijan powerlifters Sara Abbasova of women's 82.50kg and Goundouz Ismayilov of men's 90kg category had returned positive results from tests done in the pre-games period.The two have been disqualified from Athens games and banned for life.

    In accordance with the IPC Anti-Doping Code, and after a hearing of the IPC Anti-Doping Subcommittee, the IPC Management Committee ratified the decision not to impose any further sanctionthan loss of results and the gold medal of Perez from the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, as well as the imposition of a warning and a reprimand.

    The reason is that the drug is easy to obtain over the counter and it is not performance-enhancing in judo, explained Miriam Wilkens, IPC Communications Director. Enditem