Popescu kicked out of Romanian Olympic team
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Romania has axed middle distance runner Liliana Popescu from its team for the Beijing Olympics for failing a drugs test, the Romanian Olympic Committee (COR) confirmed overnight.
No details were given on the doping substance.
The country's athletics federation said that a B-sample would be tested shortly, but pointed out that Romania did not want to run the risk of competing with an athlete suspected of doping in Beijing.
"All members of the Romanian delegation will undergo anti-doping controls before the Olympic Games in order to avoid a financial catastrophe," said Octavian Bellu, president of the National Sports Authority.
Bellu said that the fine for a positive test during the Games would be 100,000 euros ($165,249).
Popescu, who won several races in 2008 over 1,500 metres including the Super Grand Prix in Doha, was among Romania's medals hopes.
-AFP
