One of the jewels of European judo, Denis Vieru is suspected of the use doping in 2019. According to Lesprit du Judo, Vieru lost the points he earned during the summer of 2019, including his world bronze medal in Tokyo in August and his final at the Croatian Grand Prix in July. As observers know, this is often the obvious sign of a doping sanction. So what about the two-year suspension that normally accompanies it? And for what reason?

Information taken from the international federation, it is indeed a case of doping for "specific substance" - which designates a substance on the prohibited list - according to the terminology, sanctioned by the Regional Anti-Doping Agency from Eastern Europe, dependent on WADA, the only one authorized for Moldova. It was she who informed the IFJ and asked them to withdraw the official points counting for an Olympic selection. But the Agency specifies for this case that the athlete was able to prove that there was "neither will to doping, nor negligence" on his part, which explains a sentence reduced to eight months from the moment of the decision-making, that is between June 2019 and February 2020. The time for deliberation not being suspensive, the Moldovan fighter was therefore able to participate in the meantime in competitions, including the world championships. The points were withdrawn from him a posteriori ... and, in theory, the medal obtained, which remains to be formalized. As for knowing what is the incriminated substance and the mitigating circumstances which convinced the Agency, it is still under the seal of the confidential.