5 Throwers Who Have Tested Positive For Performance Enhancing Drugs

1. Adrián Annus

Hungarian Hammer Thrower Adrián Annus was stripped of his gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens for a doping violation. His disqualification came at the same time as teammate, Róbert Fazekas’ disqualification. The incident received widespread attention as Annus refused to return his gold medal after several months.

In 2004, the International Olympic Committee concluded that his urine samples provided – taken before and after competition – showed evidence of belonging to different people. The IOC attempted to test Annus shortly after the competition again but he refused the set, which itself warranted his disqualification.

The IOC never officially concluded how it was possible for Annus to provide samples that belonged to different people, but track and field insiders said he likely used a device, which included a container for urine and a fake penis and emptied the container into the testing bottle when required to provide a sample.

Following a rejected appeal and a hearing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Annus was banned for two years. Following the ban, Annus began training and started competing in 2007.

He has recently been seen coaching prominent Egyptian Hammer Throwers.