Doping may end career of Taylan

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Nurcan Taylan was Turkey’s biggest Olympic medal hope in weightlifting.

Nurcan Taylan risks being hit with a career-threatening four-year ban after the former Olympic champion weightlifter tested positive for banned steroids, the Anatolia news agency reported.

The 28-year-old tested positive for doping in tests run in Cologne, Germany, and according to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) rules, she could be banned for up to four years, which would likely see out her career.

Turkish Wrestling Federation head Hasan Akkuş held a press conference yesterday and said Taylan has a right to defend herself.

“Taylan did not test positive in her first sample Oct. 17, but she tested positive for her Oct. 26 sample,” Akkuş said in Ankara. “Then she demanded a second test for her second sample, which also tested positive.

“Every athlete has a right to demand a hearing with IWF, and Taylan can use that too,” the chairman added.

He also said Taylan did not make it to the conference although she previously told the chairman she would.

Taylan is the first Turkish female gold medalist after her victory in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Four years later, she went to Beijing with high hopes but did not win a medal.

Next year’s London Olympic Games could have been her latest attempt for an Olympic gold, but a doping ban would likely end her Olympic dreams for good.