Athlete tests positive at Games, escapes ban

An unnamed female athlete has tested positive for a "light stimulant" and has been reprimanded as she took the substance before the official Olympic period, the International Olympic Committee said on Thursday.

The athlete used a substance contained in an over-the-counter nose spray that is not banned in out-of-competition tests but was still in her body when tested in Vancouver ahead of the February 12-28 Games, IOC Vice President Thomas Bach said.

"This is the first doping case for Vancouver," Bach told an IOC session. "This case concerns an athlete who took a light stimulant even before the period of the Games, a light stimulant which is usually not prohibited out of competition but during the Games," he added.

IOC officials informed that more details of the case would be made known later on Thursday.

"This makes this case very special because she took it outside the period of the Games but it was still in the body during the Games period. She was very open and cooperative at the end of the disciplinary commission, (and said) that there was a violation of the rules," Bach said.

Bach said the commission chose to reprimand the athlete, considering it a "very special case".

"With regard to the consequences we thought that it would be fair to issue a reprimand for this special case rather than sending the athlete home and disqualifying her which seemed too severe in this very special case," he said.