LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 26. COLOMBIAN Olympic swimmer Omar Pinzon has been suspended for two years after testing positive for cocaine last November.
Through a blog post by Alex Pussieldi last November, Swimming World reported on the positive test at the Colombian nationals. FINA's two-year ban from competition was released this week, meaning Pinzon's B sample also came up positive and his appeal was denied.
Pinzon, who is the South American record holder in the 200-meter backstroke in long course (1:56.40) and short course (1:52.34), has been training under Dave Salo at the Trojan Swim Club in Los Angeles the past two years. Previously, Pinzon trained at the University of Florida. Pinzon is also a three-time Olympian, having competed at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
The ban is retroactive to November 12, 2012, the day the sample was taken. That means Pinzon will be unable to compete in this summer's world championships, next year's Pan Pacific championships or the 2013 world championships or Pan American Games. He will be eligible for a fourth Olympic Games in 2016.
Also listed on the FINA list of suspended athletes was Colombian water polo player Jose Llanos Quiceno, who was given a two-year suspension after testing positive for marijuana.