Siméon's lengthy suspension about to expire

SEYCHELLOIS weightlifter Charles Siméon will soon be back in action after serving a lengthy suspension for failing a drug test in 2002.

Siméon who tested positive for metenolone – an anabolic steroid – after competing in the African Weightlifting Championship in Nairobi has said that he would like to forget the past incident and continue from where he had left off.

"I no longer think about the past incident as I would like to put it behind me. It has been a bit hard for me since I had to miss the Sixth Indian Ocean Islands Games and the All-African Championships. I am happy that the ban is about to expire as I have the desire to compete and prove myself to a number of people," said Simeon who had words of thanks for everyone who had been by his side during his anguish, especially his big brother and colleague Romeo.

Simeon's ban is to expire later this month but before he can compete in any competition the twenty-year-old will have to wait for official documents from the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF).

It is to note that Siméon a triple gold medallist – snatch (100kg), clean and jerk (135kg) and total (235kg) – was stripped of all the medals he won at the competition in Nairobi – in the junior category of the 69-kg division. Moreover the local weightlifting federation was fined $1,000 and had to pay $200 for the first test on the 'A' sample and another $400 on the 'B' sample.

C. J.