25. August 2010  
Lausanne, Switzerland  
Artistic Gymnastics

Fatal negligence: MARIAN DRAGULESCU WARNED!

Marian DRAGULESCU (ROU)

*fig --: The F.I.G. office published today, that a severe warning has been issued to Romanian gymnast Marian Dragulescu for failing to comply with the procedures governing the fight against doping.
Three indictments were filed against the gymnast, namely concerning violation of a rule stipulating that a gymnast must announce his return to competition after a retirement, a communication made regarding Marian Dragulescu by his national federation on December 30, 2008. Because of his failure to comply with this rule, Dragulescu was not taken into account for out of competition testing since he was not on the 2009 FIG RTP (Registered Testing Pool) official list.

* fig press release

The Commission has found little or no whereabouts information for the first three trimesters of 2010. In defiance of the rules in force, the athlete in question participated in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in London 2009, where he took two world titles on Vault and Floor.
Marian Dragulescu, who stood alone before the Disciplinary Commission on July 30, ...
... was informed of the decisions and considerations corroborated by the FIG Presidential Commission, who pointed out a wilful negligence on the part of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation in the administrative handling of Dragulescu’s career and a failure to uphold its educational role in the fight against doping.
Court costs will be paid by the Romanian Federation. To conclude, the FIG has shown leniency to Dragulescu; however, in the event of a subsequent offence the gymnast will be subject to a suspension of one to two years.
These sanctions serve as a warning to the entire gymnastics community; education is taken seriously by the FIG and compliance with the procedures in force and the upholding of one’s responsibilities in the fight against doping is mandatory.
* Source: FIG press release