French fencing champion Laura Flessel conceded in an interview published Friday that she tested positive for the use of a stimulant following a dosage error by a national team doctor.
A French Federation spokeswoman said a test carried out at a May 26 World Cup event in Malaga, Spain had revealed the presence of a glucose-based stimulant in Flessel's blood.
Flessel, who lost her title in the 2000 Olympics and is scheduled to hold a news conference later in Lisbon, Portugal, where she was due to compete in a world championship event. She said that she agreed to fence in Lisbon only if the federation explains the error.
The Guadeloupe-born athlete won two gold medals in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but only took one bronze in Sydney.