In 2009 the Hellenic Amateur Athletic Association (SEGAS) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after she tested positive for the prohibited substance CERA, due to re-analysis of her A and B samples collected out-of competition in Greece on 6 August 2008.
The Athlete retired immediately after the positive test results came back in January 2009 even though she consistently denies knowingly using the substances in question.
Hereafter the Hellenic Amateur Athletic Association Tribunal decided to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on 20 January 2009, and disqualification of all results from 6 August 2008. Pursuant to the Tribunal decision, the Athlete’s results obtained by during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are null and void.
In January 2009 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to perform further testing on the Athlete’s samples collected during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, due to a fully validated test to detect CERA became available. In April 2009 The IOC reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after her 2008 sample tested positive for the prohibited substance CERA.
After notification by the IOC the Athlete did not file a statement in her defence nor did she confirm that she would attend the hearing of the IOC Disciplinary Commission.
In November 2009 the IOC Disciplinary Commission decides that:
1.) The Athlete, Athanasia Tsoumeleka, Greece, Athletics, is disqualified from the Women's 20km Walk event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games where she placed 9th;
2.) The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
3.) This decision shall enter into force immediately.
