Bulgaria condemns runner who failed doping test

Bulgarian authorities on Friday condemned the behavior of runner Silvia Danekova, who failed a doping test at the Rio Olympics 2016, according to an official statement.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Youth and Sports said in the statement it was unacceptable to undermine Bulgaria's image this way and to cast a stain on Bulgarian sport.

All Bulgarian Olympic athletes including Silvia Danekova went through a detailed training at the National Anti-Doping Centre and were explicitly informed about the anti-doping rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee, the statement said.

"The athlete was tested by the country's anti-doping organization before the start of the Rio Olympics 2016 and gave another sample upon her arrival in Rio de Janeiro and the results were negative," the statement also said.

The 33-year-old steeplechase athlete tested positive in a doping control conducted a few days after her arrival in Brazil on July 26. Danekova is temporarily suspended pending the test of her B sample. Enditem