An Azerbaijani powerlifter has had his life ban from the Paralympics lifted after proving that his former girlfriend spiked his drink with an anabolic steroid at the 2004 games in Athens.
The International Paralympic Committee describes Gunduz Ismayilov's situation as "a very unique case with a unique set of circumstances."
Ismayilov was banned for life after testing positive for stanozolol ahead of competing at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
He already served a two-year ban for testing positive for the steroid nandrolone after winning gold with a world record lift at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics.
Now, the IPC accepts that "his former partner -- an athlete who also competed in Athens -- admitted in a Baku court of law that she had sabotaged his drink in the Athens Paralympic Village."
