Odise Dhima, 58, is accused by Greek authorities of supplying athletes with banned substances. The arrest also brings back into focus the high-profile clash four years ago with Albanian weightlifting officials.
An issue that has caused controversy between Albania and Greece for years is returning to the center of attention. Odise Dhima, the brother of former Olympic champion Pirro Dhima, has been arrested in Greece on suspicion of involvement in an illegal activity of supplying athletes with doping substances.
The operation was carried out after an investigation in cooperation with anti-doping authorities and Greek drug institutions. During searches at his home and at sports facilities in Attica, police seized 871 tablets and ampoules, 15,000 euros, 17 athlete cards, documents and a mobile phone.
According to investigators, there is suspicion that the activity had been carried out for years, while a case of administering a banned substance to a minor athlete has also been identified.
The arrest brings back to mind the case of weightlifter Evangjeli Veli. Four years ago, the president of the Albanian Weightlifting Federation, Elez Gjoza, had publicly accused Odise Dhima of involvement in her doping case.
At the time, Pirro Dhima had rejected the statements and had announced a defamation lawsuit. However, the current investigation in Greece does not constitute final evidence of Odise Dhima’s involvement in the Evangjeli Veli case. The investigations are expected to shed light on specific responsibilities.