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Cape Town - South African Rio 2016 Olympics triathlon bronze medal winner, Henri Schoeman, has issued a statement following accusations he failed a doping test in the lead-up to the Games.
MUST READ: Triathlon governing body clears Schoeman of doping
Schoeman, now 26, finished in third place behind British brothers Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee in Rio.
However last week, Russian hackers Fancy Bears released a string of emails they claimed were between International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials which stated Schoeman tested positive for Prednisolone.
The use of Prednisolone is allowed outside of competition, but prohibited by the IOC without prior consent during races.
Prednisolone is a steroid medication used to treat allergies, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders and cancers.
Fancy Bears have previously leaked data from the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) ADAMS system about other athletes.
The International Triathlon Union (ITU) confirmed they were investigating "an adverse analytical finding that would have occurred during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games".
On Wednesday, Schoeman posted the following statement on his official website:
A recent article published by Sputnik alleged that I failed a Doping Test conducted after my race in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
In light of an investigation launched immediately after these rumours surfaced, I chose simply to cooperate and refrained from airing my opinion or sharing any details on the allegations until all the facts had been independently studied and confirmed.
After thorough investigation by the IOC, WADA and ITU, I have received a letter confirming what I have known all along.
There has never been a positive result, an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) or a necessity for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
I have never failed a drug test in my sporting career nor have I ever had to apply for a TUE.
I work extremely hard at what I do, it is not always easy but Triathlon is my passion and I enjoy it.
I have the utmost respect for my competitors and my values and integrity would never allow me to abuse any substance to gain an advantage.
There have been many hurtful comments and judgements passed on my character in the past week, yet I count myself fortunate to have the support and encouragement of my family, friends and fans.
I am happy to put this behind me and will continue to put in the hard work and focus on my preparation for the Commonwealth Games in April as well as the 2018 WTS season.
