Iranian skiier first to fail doping test at Winter Olympics

Iranian Alpine skier Hossein Saveh Shemshaki has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for an anabolic steroid – the first confirmed case of doping at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The 36-year-old was expected to compete at his third Games but returned an "adverse analytical finding", the International Testing Agency said.

Saveh Shemshaki's sample, collected during an out-of-competition anti-doping control on Monday in Beijing, tested positive for an anabolic androgenic steroid that is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances.

An ITA statement read: "The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

"This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

"The athlete has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD).

"The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample."

Saveh Shemshaki raced in slalom and giant slalom at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and four years later at Sochi, where he was Iran’s flag bearer.