Commonwealth Games Weightlifter Belinda Van Tienen Faces Eviction from Australian Team

Strategic Insights -

Australian weightlifter Belinda Van Tienen may be disqualified from the Commonwealth Games just days before the event, as the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) takes over the case. The Sports Anti-Doping Authority comes into effect today with new powers, and Van Tienen's file will be handed over for immediate consideration. The move follows criticism from independent investigators of the Australian Weightlifting Federation, led by Games executive Sam Coffa, for handling the case in secret and without involving the Australian Sports Commission.

Key Takeaways:

  • Belinda Van Tienen, a Commonwealth Games weightlifter, is under investigation for allegedly supplying tainted supplements to her rivals, Camilla Fogagnolo and Jenna Myers.
  • Van Tienen was named in the weightlifting team despite being accused of supplying the drug benzylpiperazine (BZP), which resulted in two-year bans for Fogagnolo and Myers.
  • The Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Weightlifting Federation have been criticized for handling the case in secret and without involving the Australian Sports Commission.
  • Van Tienen's case will be the first to be transferred to the ASADA, which comes into effect today with new powers.
  • Van Tienen's withdrawal from the Games is being considered as the best solution for all concerned, following her injury in training a week ago.
  • Van Tienen's disgraced flatmate, Keith Murphy, who owns a supplement company, Fortius, was convicted of drug trafficking last year and is believed to be still involved in the business.

Statistics:

  • 14.6 kilograms of the Ben Johnson steroid Stanozolol were found at Keith Murphy's residence when he was caught with drugs.
  • 2-year suspended sentence was handed down to Keith Murphy for drug trafficking.
  • 2 Tasmanian lifters, Camilla Fogagnolo and Jenna Myers, received 2-year bans after being supplied with tainted supplements by Van Tienen.

Sources:

  • "Weightlifter's drug case goes to new authority" by JACQUELIN MAGNAY, The Age.
  • Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
  • Australian Weightlifting Federation.
  • Australian Sports Commission.
  • The Age newspaper.
  • Commonwealth Games Federation.