Kyrgyz Izzat Artykov weightlifter stripped of Rio2016 bronze medal

A weightlifter from Kyrgyzstan named Izzat Artykov  became the first athlete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics to be stripped of a medal after a positive drug test.

The 22 year old, entered the Rio 2016 Games as the reigning Asian Champion, winning bronze as he hauled a total of 339 kilograms in the men's 69-kilogram category final on Tuesday.

Izzat Artykov tested positive for strychnine after winning the bronze medal in the 69-kilogram division, the Court of Arbitration’s anti-doping division said Thursday.

Strychnine is a defined as a stimulant in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances. It is a highly toxic drug often used as a pesticide, particularly for killing rodents. However, it also has a long history in sports doping, used in small doses to tighten tired muscles. Strychnine was reportedly commonly used in the early years of the Tour de France to help cyclists survive the demanding rides.

CAS referred the case to the international weightlifting federation for possible further sanctions against Artykov, who could face a two-year ban from the sport. The federation and the IOC were asked to decide on the reallocation of the medal.

The 22-year-old lifter’s medal was taken away and he was kicked out of the games. Colombian Luis Javier Mosquera Lozano finished fourth behind Artykov and is in line for promotion to the bronze medal position.