Jul 30, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Nicholas Delpopolo (USA), right, reacts after his contest against Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal (MON), not pictured, in the men's 73kg repechage during the London 2012 Olympic Games at ExCeL - South Arena 3. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports
LONDON - U.S. judo athlete Nicholas Delpopolo has tested positive for marijuana and has been disqualified from the London Olympics by the IOC, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced Monday.
In a statement, Delpopolo, 23, said he inadvertently ate a baked good that contained marijuana before he left for the Olympics.
"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," he said in a statement.
Delpopolo, who is from Westfield, N.J., and lives in Amsterdam, N.Y., finished competing in London on July 30, losing in the repechage round of the 73-kilogram weight class by yuko to Nyam-Ochir Sainjargal of Mongolia. Delpopolo was 0-4 in the Olympics.
This is the first in-competition positive test for the U.S. Olympic team in London. Before the Games, wrestler Stephany Lee was kept off the team after testing positive for tetrahydrocannabinol acid, a marijuana metabolite, in a sample collected April 21 at the Olympic trials in Iowa City, Iowa.
It was Lee's second doping violation.
USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said the organization is 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," he said in a statement. "We look forward to witnessing the continued success of our athletes and commend their dedication to clean sport."
USA TODAY staff reports