Kosovo's Rio judo star 'was tested week after control refusal'

Kosovan Olympic judo champion Majlinda Kelmendi was tested a week after refusing a doping control in France, the International Judo Federation (IJF) said on Tuesday.

Kelmendi made history in winning the women's under-52kg gold in Rio on Sunday -- her country's first Olympic medal at their debut Games -- but on Monday it was revealed she has been provisionally suspended by the French Anti-doping Agency (AFLD) for refusing a test in June at a training camp in the south west of France.

"When (IJF) president Marius Vizer was informed about this case, he decided to test all athletes who did not submit to the test, the following week. These results were negative," said the IJF in a statement sent to AFP on Tuesday.

The IJF said the doping test in Saint-Cyprien in the Pyrenees region was unannounced.

"The controller had a list of French athletes present in the camp and was surprised to also meet foreign athletes.

"She decided to test the foreign athletes by asking their judo results in order to test the world's best athletes.

"Coaches from several countries were surprised by the procedures of this control and asked for advice from the IJF anti-doping specialist.

"She cautiously expressed that in view of the reported facts, they had no obligation to do the test in those conditions."

Some athletes submitted to the test but Kelmendi and German Martyna Trajdos, the European under-63kg champion, did not.

This led to Kelmendi being provisionally banned on French soil, although the suspension is not recognised by the IJF.

"A procedure that only concerns Majlinda Kelmendi, whereas the other athlete never received any notification, is underway," added the IJF statement

"We hope that this procedure will respect the rights of the athletes."