By Duncan Mackay

Belgium's Charline Van Snick is facing the prospect of losing the bronze medal she won at the 2013 World Championships after testing positive for cocaineOctober 14 - Belgium's Charline Van Snick, a London 2012 bronze medallist, has tested positive for cocaine at this year's World Judo Championships, she has announced.


The 23-year-old from Liège, who also won a bronze at the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in August, beating Argentinian Paula Pareto, revealed the news during an interview with Belgian public radio station RTBF.

"I received a letter informing me that a banned substance had been found in one of my urine samples, metabolites of cocaine," said Van Snick, who also won a silver medal at this year's European Championships in Budapest.

"The news stunned me, because I am very careful with this, and I really have a perfect lifestyle.

"I have never taken any substance that can improve my performance.

"Not intentionally anyway."

Charline Van Snick celebrates winning her Olympic bronze medal at London 2012Charline Van Snick celebrates winning her Olympic bronze medal at London 2012

Van Snick faces a two-year suspension and the loss of her medal in the under 48 kilogram category from Rio is now awaiting the results of the B sample.

"With my lawyer, we are building a case to prove my innocence," she said.

"I've always tried to be as professional as possible and meet all my doping obligations and I don't understand how such a thing could have happened."

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