Nicholas Delpopolo, a judo fighter for Team USA, has been expelled from the Olympics after testing positive for THC and marijuana.
Delpopolo, who was born an orphan in Belgrade and raised in Westfield, New Jersey, ended his Olympic bout after a loss to Mongolian fighter Nyam-Ochir Sainjarga last week.
The 23-year-old vowed to come back stronger in 2016, but the USOC sent out a statement today saying he was disqualified from future Olympics after the positive test:
Nick Delpopolo has failed an in-competition drug test (THC, marijuana) and as a result, he has been disqualified from the Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee. The United States Olympic Committee is absolutely committed to clean competition and stringent anti-doping penalties. Any positive test, for any banned substance, comes with the appropriate consequences and we absolutely support the disqualification. We look forward to witnessing the continued success of our athletes and commend their dedication to clean sport.
Delpopolo also sent out a statement, which was included by the USOC. He blames the positive test on food he says he ingested without knowing it was baked with marijuana.
My positive test was caused by my inadvertent consumption of food that I did not realize had been baked with marijuana, before I left for the Olympic Games. I apologize to U.S. Olympic Committee, to my teammates, and to my fans, and I am embarrassed by this mistake. I look forward to representing my country in the future, and will re-dedicate myself to being the best judo athlete that I can be.
