Venezuelan Basketball Player Is Tested Positive for Cocaine

Armando Becker, a Venezuelan basketball player, tested positive for cocaine at the Pan American Games, a member of the technical basketball commission said Friday.

Eduardo Davagnino of Peru said a coach for Venezuela confirmed that Becker had tested positive for cocaine. Orlando Mosquera, the coach, said that the Venezuelan delegation was notified by doctors from the Pan American Sports Organization about the positive test.

Becker was not in uniform for Venezuela’s fifth-place game against Brazil.

The Venezuelan team doctor, Javier Rodriguez Davalillo, said he did not have the information or authority to comment. But he did acknowledge that it “was possible” that Becker had been punished.

Earlier in the games, three other athletes failed drug tests.