Belarus Olympic weightlifter faces ban over sample tampering

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) A Belarusian weightlifter who was mysteriously withdrawn from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics has been suspended for alleged ”urine substitution” in a doping sample.

The International Weightlifting Federation says Stanislav Chadovich is provisionally suspended awaiting a ruling on allegations of using substitute urine to fool a drug test.

At the Olympics, Chadovich was to compete in the men’s 62-kilogram category and was considered a potential medal winner. However, he was removed from the Belarus team at short notice with no explanation.

The IWF did not say whether the alleged offense occurred in Rio.

It comes as Belarus already faces a one-year ban from international weightlifting after several lifters failed retests of their doping samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Pole vault record holder Yelena Isinbayeva retires from competing

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia

Rio de Janeiro – Yelena Isinbayeva walked away from competing but not from her sport on Friday.

The women’s pole vault world record holder announced her retirement as she focuses on a new career in sports politics and considers an offer to lead Russian track and field.

Isinbayeva was prevented from seeking a third Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro after the IAAF banned all but one Russian track and field athlete from the games over their country’s state-sponsored doping scandal.

She still traveled to Rio to campaign in the election for the athletes’ representative on the International Olympic Committee. A day after being among the four winning candidates, the 34-year-old Isinbayeva decided she doesn’t want to compete anymore.

“Today in Rio on August 19 2016, Yelena Isinbayeva is finishing her professional career,” she said close to the end of a 50-minute news conference.

“Yesterday’s election to the IOC commission inspired me,” Isinbayeva added through a translator. “It means I am not saying goodbye to the sport. I say goodbye to the pole, to my medals … I fulfilled my dreams.”

And without doping, she maintains.

“I have proved it again and again,” she said. “All my tests were negative.”

One of her priorities now is campaigning for Russia’s IAAF suspension to be lifted so fellow clean athletes can resume their professional careers. Isinbayeva could be taking on that mission as the top administrator in Russian athletics.

“I have received an offer to head up the federation,” Isinbayeva said. “It is an interesting offer but it is also a serious challenge.

“When I get back from the Olympics I will meet the president of the federation. We will talk about my future role. I find it very interesting … I think I can bring the federation back into the IAAF fold.”

Isinbayeva remains aggrieved about the IAAF’s treatment of Russia. She said it “speaks volumes about the IAAF” leadership that they didn’t congratulate her for being one of four successful candidates in the IOC athletes’ commission election.

“I am a bit offended,” she said. “We are the same team … but for some reason I didn’t receive any congratulations.”

Although Isinbayeva said she forgives IAAF President Sebastian Coe for the “injustice” of banning Russia, she said: “Let it be on their conscience. God will be their judge.”

Isinbayeva also railed against the “unfair” investigations by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has published reports in the last year by investigators Dick Pound and Richard McLaren.

“All of the accusations that have leveled have been built upon assumptions, there are no facts, no proof but for some reason (McLaren’s) assumptions were sufficient to raise the question of banning the entire Russian team (from the Olympics),” Isinbayeva said. “I would like to see more facts, more specific proof against specific athletes.”

She urged sports administrators to be “dignified” in developing sport rather than fostering “some useful war.”

Isinbayeva won gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2008 Beijing Games. She took bronze four years ago in London and will be elsewhere in Rio rather than watching the women’s Olympic pole vault final on Friday night.

“When you compete without Isinbayeva this isn’t going to be a fully-fledged gold medal,” she said

 AP

Three Russian athletes disqualified for failing anti-doping tests at Beijing 2008

Russian Anastasia KAPACHINSKAYA.jpg

Anastasia KAPACHINSKAYA, 36, of the Russian Federation, competing in the women’s 400m and 4x400m relay events, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, in which she ranked 5th and 2nd with her teammates. Reanalysis of Kapachinskaya’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substances stanozolol and dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Denis Oswald (Chairman), Juan Antonio Samaranch and Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

  1. The Athlete, Anastasia KAPACHINSKAYA:
      1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen
      2. is disqualified from all the events in which she participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, namely, the women’s 400m and the women’s 4x400m relay, and
      3. has the medal, the medallist pin and the diplomas obtained in the women’s 400m and the women’s 4x400m relay withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
  1. The Russian Federation Team is disqualified from the women’s 4x400m relay. The corresponding medals and diplomas are withdrawn and shall be returned.
  2. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
  3. The Russian Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
  4. The Russian Olympic Committee shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medals, the medallist pins and the diplomas awarded in connection with the women’s 400m and in connection with the women’s 4x400m relay to the Athlete and to the other team members of the women’s 4x400m Russian Federation Team.
  5. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Alexander POGORELOV, 36, of the Russian Federation, competing in the decathlon event, has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 in which he ranked 4th. Reanalysis of Pogorelov’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Denis Oswald (Chairman), Juan Antonio Samaranch and Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

  1. The Athlete, Alexander POGORELOV:
      1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
      2. is disqualified from the decathlon event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, and
      3. has the diploma obtained in the decathlon event withdrawn and is ordered to return the same.
  1. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
  2. The Russian Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
  3. The Russian Olympic Committee shall notably secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the diploma awarded in connection with the decathlon event to the Athlete.
  4. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Ivan YUSHKOV, 35, of the Russian Federation, competing in athletics (shot put event), has been disqualified from the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 in which he ranked 10th. Reanalysis of Yushkov’s samples from Beijing 2008 resulted in a positive test for the prohibited substances stanozolol, oxandrolone and dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol).

The IOC Disciplinary Commission, composed for this case of Denis Oswald (Chairman), Juan Antonio Samaranch and Ugur Erdener, decided the following:

  1. The Athlete, Ivan YUSHKOV:
        1. is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
        2. is disqualified from the shot put event in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
  1. The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
  2. The Russian Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
  3. This decision enters into force immediately.

The full decision is available here.

Olympics-Dalilah Muhammad wins Olympic gold in women’s 400 hurdles

Dalilah Muhammad

RIO DE JANEIRO — American Dalilah Muhammad picked a good year to hit her peak in the 400-meter hurdles.

After two years of struggling with injuries and losing confidence over disappointing results, Muhammad won gold Thursday in 53.14 seconds, dominating the race despite a light rain that fell over Olympic Stadium.

Taking command early, Muhammad found herself all alone in the final 100 meters, cruising to the finish by a comfortable .42 seconds over Denmark’s Sara Slott Petersen. It’s the first time an American woman has won a gold medal in this event.

American Ashley Spencer, who was far back early, earned the bronze medal with a strong finishing kick while posting her personal best time of 53.72 seconds.

“It’s so exciting,” said Muhammad, the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the event. “This means so much; I’ve been working so hard for this. The last two years haven’t been the best but to finally be where I’m supposed to be at the right time, and I’m so happy about that.”

Muhammad’s performance at the U.S. Olympic trials foreshadowed her gold-medal run here. After making a coaching change in February and improving her fitness level, she posted the fastest time in the world this year and shaved nearly a second off her personal best.

“I just to remotivate myself to work harder,” she said. “I worked as hard as I ever did in this last year and being so much more disciplined played a huge factor.”

Though she didn’t run that fast in Rio, it was an impressive performance nonetheless for the former Southern Cal hurdler. Her game plan coming out of lane No. 3 was to hit the front as quickly as possible, and she didn’t disappoint. By hurdle No. 8, she had opened up on the field and was only going to get caught if she made a mistake.

U.S swimmer Ryan Lochte lied about robbery, Brazil police

Swimmer Ryan Lochte

Rio de Janeiro – American Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte fabricated a story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, a Brazilian police official told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The official, who has direct knowledge of the investigation, spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about an ongoing probe.

He said that around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Lochte, along with fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen, stopped at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca, a suburb of Rio where many Olympic venues are located. One of the swimmers tried to open the door of an outside bathroom. It was locked.

The official said a few of the swimmers then pushed on the door and broke it. A security guard appeared and confronted them.

The guard was armed with a pistol, but he never took it out or pointed it at the swimmers, the official said.

According to the official, the gas station manager then arrived.

Using a customer to translate, the manager asked the swimmers to pay for the broken door. The official says after a discussion, they did pay him an unknown amount of money and left.

The news comes after two of those swimmers, Conger and Bentz, were yanked off a homebound flight Wednesday. The pair later told police that the robbery story had been fabricated, the Brazilian police official said.

Police have planned a Thursday afternoon news briefing on the incident. A message seeking comment was left with Lochte’s attorney.

“Let’s give these kids a break…they had fun, they made a mistake, life goes on,” a Rio Olympics spokesman told Reuters.

Feigen, who was not on the flight with Conger and Bentz, was ordered to stay in Brazil. He told USA Today that he’s cooperating with authorities. Lochte made it back to the U.S. before authorities could seize his passport.

Lochte said he was with Conger, Bentz and Feigen when they were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi by men with a police badge as they returned to the athletes’ village from a party, several hours after the final Olympic swimming events were held. Lochte claimed he had a gun pointed at his head.

NBC reported Wednesday night that Lochte backed off some of his earlier claims about the robbery. He now says the taxi wasn’t pulled over by men with a badge, but that they were robbed after stopping at a gas station, NBC reported. Lochte also said the assailant pointed a gun at him rather than putting it to his head.

But Lochte also said no one in law enforcement asked him to stay in the country for additional questioning and reportedly expressed surprise at the casual nature of authorities’ questioning.

Asked by Matt Lauer if he had made the robbery story up, Lochte denied the charge.

“He stopped me quickly and strongly denied that,” Lauer said. “He said, ‘That’s absolutely not the case. I wouldn’t make up a story like this, nor would the others. As a matter of fact, we all feel it makes us look bad. We’re victims in this and we’re happy that we’re safe.'”

But the group did not call police, authorities said, and officers began investigating once they saw media reports in which Lochte’s mother spoke about the robbery.

Police interviewed Lochte and one other swimmer, who said they had been intoxicated and could not remember what type and color of taxi they rode in or where the robbery happened, the police official said. The swimmers also could not say what time the events occurred.

Lochte described the alleged robbery to NBC’s “Today” show Sunday.

“We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over,” Lochte said. “They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn’t do anything wrong, so — I’m not getting down on the ground.

“And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down,’ and I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever.’ He took our money, he took my wallet — he left my cellphone, he left my credentials.”

Lochte told USA Today that he and his teammates didn’t initially tell the U.S. Olympic officials about the robbery “because we were afraid we’d get in trouble.”

AP

Two U.S. Swimmers Pulled Off Plane in Rio Amid Robbery Probe

 

Ryan Lochte to Matt Lauer on alleged robbery: ‘We wouldn’t make this up’

Two U.S. Olympic swimmers who say they were with Ryan Lochte when they were robbed in Rio de Janeiro were removed from a plane by Brazilian authorities late Wednesday.

Jeff Ostrow, a lawyer representing Lochte, and a spokesman for the U.S. Olympic Committee confirmed swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were taken off the aircraft.

Detective Alexandre Braga, the chief of the city’s tourist police, said the pair had their passports “temporarily confiscated by a court order” through the Brazilian Sporting Events Court.

Bentz and Conger were released by authorities “with the understanding that they would continue their discussions about the incident on Thursday,” said USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky.

The two were seen leaving the airport police station early Thursday, when they were surrounded by media before getting into a black vehicle.

FROM AUG. 15: Ryan Lochte gives details of robbery in Rio2:35

 

On Wednesday, a Brazilian judge ordered Lochte and Olympian Jimmy Feigen to remain in Brazil as authorities investigated their account of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio early Sunday by assailants dressed as police officers.

Sandusky said in a statement Thursday that Bentz, Conger and Feigen were “cooperating with authorities” and determining a time and place to speak further with police.

“All are represented by counsel and being appropriately supported by the USOC and the U.S. Consulate in Rio,” he added.

Lochte’s lawyer said Conger and Bentz had not been specifically named by thejudge who had wanted Lochte’s and Feigen’s passports seized.

However, Lochte had already left Brazil and is in the United States. Feigen is still in Brazil and is cooperating with local authorities and “intends to make further statements” on Thursday, the USOC spokesman said.

Sources at Rio’s airport told NBC News that Feigen checked in for a flight online, but never showed up.

Brazilian judge Keyla Blanc de Cnop said Lochte and Feigen gave contradictory accounts of the robbery, according to the court’s statement. The men also said the robbery took place on the way home from a club, which they left at 4 a.m. But security video showed them leaving at a different time, the judge said.

De Cnop added that Lochte told police there was one robber, while Feigen said there were more, one of whom had a gun.

Lochte told TODAY’s Matt Lauer in a telephone interview Wednesday night that he returned from Rio earlier that day, and no one told him he should stay in Brazil. Lochte said he told authorities he would cooperate.

Lauer said he asked Lochte about skepticism that his story may have been fabricated but the swimmer balked at that suggestion.

“He strongly denied that, said it’s absolutely not the case,” Lauer said.

Two US swimmers pulled from plane in Brazil

“I wouldn’t make up a story like this nor would the others — as a matter of fact we all feel it makes us look bad,” Lauer said, quoting Lochte. “We’re victims in this and we’re happy that we’re safe.”

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. government was aware of the situation. “We have seen media reports that two U.S. citizen athletes were detained. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance,” Kirby said in a statement.

The swimmers are subject to questioning and potential charges if police believe they gave false or misleading statements to authorities, which can carry up to six months in jail.

But under Brazil’s constitution ratified in 1988, they have the right to remain silent.

Lochte repeated his story of what happened in large part, but a few details changed, Lauer said during NBC Sports coverage of the Olympics Wednesday night.

In an interview with TODAY’s Billy Bush on Sunday, just hours after the alleged robbery, Lochte had said the gun was put against his forehead — but said in Wednesday’s telephone conversation that the gun was pointed in his general direction but the weapon was cocked, Lauer reported.

Lochte did not repeat part of his story that their taxi was pulled over by the robbers, Lauer said.

Lochte said Wednesday they were at a gas station and got back in the taxi, the taxi driver did not move, and it was then that two robbers with guns and badges approached the car and ordered the swimmers out of the vehicle and onto the ground, Lauer said.

What might happen to US Olympic swimmers questioned over Rio robbery?

Ostrow, the lawyer, said Lochte gave police a statement as representatives from the U.S. State Department, United States Olympic Committee and the FBI observed. Lochte signed the statement to attest to its truthfulness, Ostrow added.

Police did not ask Lochte for more information, and they did not ask him to remain in Brazil, Ostrow said.

“They never said, ‘Stay around,'” Ostrow said. “Otherwise, I would have advised Ryan to stay.”

He accused Brazilian authorities of trying to “save face” after allowing the incident to become “a circus.”

Lochte said in the telephone interview that he initially didn’t want to tell the story of the armed robbery because they were worried they’d broken swim team rules, Lauer said.

Once he realized he hadn’t broken any rules by being out drinking because he was over 21, Lochte said he felt it was OK to tell the story, Lauer added.

FROM AUG. 14: U.S. Olympic Swimmer Ryan Lochte, Teammates Robbed At Gunpoint

British Athlete Robbed at Olympics, Officials Say

A British athlete was robbed in Rio during the Olympics, according to officials.

‘We can confirm there has been an incident of theft involving a Team GB athlete returning to their accommodation. All members of our delegation, including the individual concerned, are accounted for, and are safe and well,” Scott Field, a spokesman for Team GB, said in a statement to NBC News Thursday.

No other details were provided.

The Guardian newspaper reported the unnamed athlete was robbed at gunpoint. NBC News has not confirmed the report. Team GB would not comment on the report.

Ryan Lochte to Matt Lauer on alleged robbery: ‘We wouldn’t make this up’ 1:50

 

The news comes amid a separate robbery investigation involving three U.S. swimmers. Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte told TODAY they were approached by two robbers with guns dressed as police officers as they returned to the Olympic Village after a night out over the weekend.

But the Americans’ claim has been met with skepticism after differing versions of their story emerged, with Lochte at one point alleging the gun was put against his head and another time claiming it was just pointed in his direction. A Brazilian judge said Lochte also told officials there was only one robber.

Lochte has already returned to the U.S. On Wednesday, Brazilian authorities removed swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger from a plane and confiscated their passports.

The State Department is monitoring the situation and said in a statement, “We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.”

NBC

Brazil ordered two U.S. Olympians to stay in the country

Rio de Janeiro – Brazilian authorities have ordered two US Olympic swimmers to stay in the country after questioning their claim they were robbed.

A judge ordered Ryan Lochte and James Feigen’s passports to be seized until they could give further evidence.

However, Lochte’s father says he is back in the US, and judicial sources suspect both swimmers are no longer in Brazil.

A US Olympic Committee (USOC) spokesman said police arrived at the Athletes’ Village on Wednesday, asking to speak to the swimmers and take their passports.

Jimmy Feigen’s whereabouts are currently unknown

“The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available,” said USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky.

He said he could not confirm the swimmers’ location for security reasons.

Lochte, one of swimming’s most decorated Olympians, said he, Feigen and two other team mates were robbed on Sunday as they travelled back to the Athletes’ Village after a party.

Investigators were puzzled by CCTV of the swimmers at the Athletes’ Village

They said they were in a taxi in the early hours of the morning when armed men carrying police badges pulled them over.

Lochte told NBC’s Today show: “They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground – they got down on the ground.

“I refused, I was like we didn’t do anything wrong, so I’m not getting down on the ground.

There has been huge security for South America’s first Olympics

“And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, ‘Get down’, and I put my hands up, I was like ‘whatever.’

“He took our money, he took my wallet – he left my cellphone, he left my credentials.”

But Judge Keyla Blanc said she was puzzled by video footage of the swimmers returning to the Athletes’ Village joking with one another.

“They arrived with their psychological and physical integrity unshaken,” she wrote.

Authorities also said the group did not call police, and officers only began investigating once they saw media reports.

Police sources say they have been unable to find the taxi driver or to verify details provided by the swimmers.

Lochte’s lawyer, Jeff Ostrow, has said there is no question the robbery happened.

Twelve-time Olympic medalist Lochte swam in two events at the Rio Games, winning gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

news.sky.com

European and Irish Boxing officials arrested in Rio

by Sonja Nikcevic, AIPS Media

RIO DE JANEIRO, August 17, 2016 – Brazilian police have arrested European Olympic Committees president and president of the Olympic Council of Ireland Patrick Hickey due to speculation of his involvement in ticketing controversy at the Rio Olympic Games.
It has since been confirmed that Hickey, an IOC member since 2012, has been formally charged with “ticket-touting, forming a cartel and illicit marketing”. Hickey could face a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.

Patrick Hickey was arrested early Wednesday night at the Windsor Marapendi Hotel in the Olympic neighborhood of Barra de Tijouca where the majority of IOC members are staying during the Games.

A warrant was issued for the EOC president’s arrest following 1000 tickets allotted to the Olympic Council of Ireland for executives, athletes, families and sponsors where found to have been sold at heightened prices to fans.

Brazilian police had detained a director of international sports hospitality company THG Sports and a woman working as an interpreter at Games on charges of fraudulent marketing of tickets.

It is reported that Hickey became unwell after his arrest and was transferred to Samaritano hospital in the Barra de Tijouca neighborhood.

The ongoing ticketing drama involving the Olympic Council of Ireland has seen local police seizing the tickets last week, before Irishman Kevin Mallon, a director of a sports hospitality company THG Sports, and an interpreter was arrested on August 5th, on charges of fraudulent marketing of tickets for the Games that were traced back to THG. Mallon has been held under arrest since.

The Olympic Council of Ireland said in a statement that it was aware of the Hickey arrest and “are seeking total clarity on the situation before we comment further”.

It is illegal for tickets allotted to a National Olympic Committee to be redistributed and sold to fans without informing the International Olympic Committee. The Authorised Ticket Reseller for the Olympic Council of Ireland is company Pro10, who had initially stated when the tickets were seized that THG’s Mallone was acting on their behalf. Brazilian police have since detained four THG directors, and have confirmed that warrants have been issued for the arrest of three directors of Pro 10.

The IOC has refused to comment further on the fact that one of it members has been arrested, for the first time during an Olympic Games, adding that Mr. Hickey has a right to be assumed innocent until evidence proved otherwise and that it has made itself fully available to cooperation with the police.

The Brazilian police held a press conference regarding the issue earlier this morning.
Rio police said in the press conference that they went to Mr Hickey’s hotel in the Barra district of the city this morning, but Mr Hickey was not present in his room.

Police were allegedly told by Mr. Hickey’s wife that he had left for Ireland, but police discovered Mr Hickey in another room at the hotel – believed to be his son’s.

According to Ireland’s Independent, Ireland’s Sports Minister Shane Ross flew to Brazil on Tuesday to discuss the situation with Hickey, but ended up fiercely criticizing him.

‘Mr Hickey absolutely refused point blank to share any information with us about this situation at all,’ Ross said.

Courtesy AIPS

Olympics Hockey: Belgium stun the Dutch to set up Argentina final

Hockey - Men's Semifinal Match Belgium v Netherlands
2016 Rio Olympics – Hockey – Semifinal – Men’s Semifinal Match Belgium v Netherlands – Olympic Hockey Centre – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 16/08/2016. Belgium celebrates their win. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko

Rio de Janeiro – Belgium set up an intriguing men’s Olympic hockey final against Argentina after they dumped out the world’s second-ranked team the Netherlands with a resounding 3-1 semi-final victory on Tuesday.

Goals from Jerome Truyens, Florent van Aubel and John-John Dohmen guaranteed Belgium a place in their first ever Olympic final.

“It’s an historical night. It was a great game, amazing against Holland. I think we’ve never beaten them in an official tournament,” Dohmen told reporters.

“Now we are doing the perfect tournament, the tournament for life and it’s at the right moment, at the Olympics.”

Following a dull first quarter, Truyens opened the scoring from a penalty corner attempt and Dohmen doubled the advantage three minutes later after getting into the circle and knocking in a pass.

Just 23 seconds after Dohmen scored, however, the Netherlands cut the lead as talisman Mink van der Weerden scored his ninth penalty corner goal of the Olympics to keep his side in the game heading into halftime.

“They played really well and I think we just sort of gave it away in the first half,” Van der Weerden said.

“We played really badly in the first half. No proper passing, no proper rhythm, nothing. We just gave it away in the first half, it was very silly. We never really were in the race. That’s how it felt for me.”

Belgium were on the back foot for most of the third quarter as they attempted to stifle the impressive Dutch attack, led by Van der Weerden.

Early in the fourth period, Belgium regained their two-goal advantage courtesy of a brilliant counter-attack, which ended up with Van Aubel scoring.

The Netherlands piled on the pressure with a wave of attacks, which required goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch to produce several big saves, but Belgium hung on for a spot in the final on Thursday.

They will face an in-form Argentina side, who powered into the final with a stunning 5-2 upset of defending champions Germany.

Reuters