The first Tunisian to haul a gold medal at Swimming World Championships, Oussama Mellouli finally looses his crown with a 18-month suspension amid doping charges. Mellouli won the 800 metres freestyle and took the silver medal in the 400 freestyle at the worlds in March this year. As a result of this sanction, all his results from the 2007 World Championships have been voided and will no longer be considered the first Arab world champion swimmer. However, the ban dates back to 2006, leaving him eligible to compete at next year’s Beijing Olympics.
The Tunisian had earlier won his first medal at the worlds with a bronze in 2003 at the 400m medley. Two years later he repeated the feat by winning another bronze in the 400m freestyle.
Endless doping scandals have besmirched every sport as no sport seems untouched by doping. The performance enhancing drugs particularly those that are forbidden by the sports organizations has threatened the sports integrity and credibility globally. Sports contribute to a healthy lifestyle, however doping totally mars it. The media coverage leading to general awareness, anti-doping policies and the worldwide autonomous organization, WADA has been set, yet endless doping scandals figure again and again. It seems to necessitate a more comprehensive approach through further harsh sanctions to completely eradicate the peril in sports.
Via: Bloomberg
