Two-time Olympic medalist Dominican athlete Lugelin Santos was suspended from participation in the competition due to falsification of passport data, RIA Novosti reports.
The athlete himself announced this on social networks. According to him, he has been under investigation by the Independent Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) since 2022 due to the fact that his passport shows a year younger than his real age.
“From the very beginning of the investigation, I admitted my guilt and informed the Dominican Athletics Federation and the National Olympic Committee about this. At the time of the act, I was a minor,” said Santos. He expressed regret about what happened and noted that “in those years he was a young man under 18 years old, with limited resources and a low level of education.” According to him, he “just followed the instructions” of those who directed his career.
Santos stressed that he does not abdicate responsibility, and called on novice athletes to “adhere to the principles of fair play.”
Santos is 30 years old and is a silver medalist at the London (400m) and Tokyo (4 x 400m mixed relay) Games.
Source: Rosbalt
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