Turkey athletics in turmoil as 31 athletes suspended for doping

Ankara: In the latest scandal affecting Turkish track and field, 31 athletes have been suspended for two years each for doping violations. The Turkish Athletics Federation (TAF) announced the sanctions Monday, including that of hammer thrower Esref Apak, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist. His case had been announced in June. The bans follow five days after the IAAF confirmed that nine Turkish athletes, including two teenagers, got two-year bans for using anabolic steroids. [caption id=“attachment_1011833” align=“aligncenter” width=“380”]  Ugur Erdener . head of Turkey’s Olympic committee, said “we are pressing ahead with our efforts to combat doping with tests conducted during and outside of competitions.” AP[/caption] Worse could follow for the sport in Turkey when TAF completes investigations into alleged doping by Asli Cakir Alptekin, the women’s 1,500-meter champion at the 2012 Olympics, and two other female team members in London last year. “The files of Asli Cakir Alptekin, Nevin Yanit and Pinar Saka were not assessed because the process of investigation following their defense statements is continuing,” the federation said Monday in a statement published on its website. At least three of the 31 new suspensions, including Apak, were in Turkey’s London Olympic team. Tugce Sahutoglu competed in women’s hammer and Elif Yildirim was in the 4x400 meters relay squad. The TAF listed all 31 athletes’ names without specifying details of their doping violations or dates of their suspensions from competing. They included another men’s hammer thrower, Fatih Eryildirim, who competed alongside Apak at the 2011 world championships in Daegu, South Korea. Many suspensions were expected after reports that multiple athletes tested positive in a targeted program ahead of the Mediterranean Games, which Turkey hosted in June. The stream of Turkish doping cases prompted TAF chairman Mehmet Terzi to resign last week after nine years in office. AP