September 10, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 09, 1429

BEIJING, Sept 9: The Beijing Paralympics were rocked by a doping controversy on Tuesday when a Pakistani powerlifter was kicked out of the Games and given a two-year ban for steroid use.

In the first drugs scandal of these Paralympics, Naveed Ahmed Butt, 37, tested positive for the steroid methandienone metabolites on September 4, two days before the opening ceremony, the International Paralympic Committee said.

“In accordance with the IPC anti-doping code, and after a hearing of the IPC anti-doping committee, the IPC ratified the decision to disqualify Butt,” the committee said in a statement, adding that a two-year ban had been imposed.

Butt had been due to take part in the men’s 100kg event next week.

IPC President Philip Craven said at the weekend that he was hoping for a “totally clean” event following hard work by authorities to stamp out doping through extensive testing and education.

IPC medical and scientific director Peter Van de Vliet told reporters that despite the disappointment of a positive test, the incident highlighted the committee’s efforts to run a fair Games.—AFP