LONDON -- Nick Delpopolo, the local Olympic judoka disqualified from the games after testing positive for marijuana, issued an updated statement Monday night that said a family member has admitted to baking the laced brownie that caused the failed test.
The statement, posted to the judoka's Facebook fan page, Depopolo stated he made "frantic phone calls" to family after failing the test. It went on to say that an unnamed female relative eventually admitted to baking brownies with marijuana that Depopolo ate several weeks prior.
He said he did sleep for several hours during a van trip the day he ate the brownie, but figured it was the result of fatigue from his training schedule.
Delpopolo's statement said he did not know the brownies had contained marijuana until being informed by the family member after the failed test.
He ended his statement with, "Although my actions were not deliberate, I know that I let down the entire nation, and for that I am truly sorry."
The relative also sent a letter of confession to the International Olympic Committee that stated, in part, "He had absolutely no idea that I dealt with marijuana at all, so it never would've crossed his mind. This is my entire fault."
Delpopolo's family is not revealing the relatives name in an effort to protect her identity.
NEWS10 spoke with his mother, Joyce Delpopolo, who would not comment on the incident.
On Monday, it was revealed the IOC had disqualified Delpopolo over the failed drug test. His seventh-place finish in an Olympic judo event last week was erased in wake of the disqualification.
Delpopolo was a graduate of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and currently resides in Amsterdam. Many people in the community say Delpopolo is a "good kid, who made a mistake."
Here is Delpopolo's statement in full:
"I would like to sincerely apologize to the U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Judo, my teammates, my fans, and everyone that has supported me throughout my Olympic journey. I'm sorry that I let you down. Judo is my life and competing in the Olympics has always been my dream. I would never intentionally do anything to jeopardize that. I was in total disbelief when I was told by the IOC that my test results came back positive. After making frantic phone calls to friends and family following the results, a family member confessed that the brownies she had baked (and that I had eaten a few weeks prior) contained marijuana. I had no idea that I had ingested marijuana until that moment. I slept the entire four hour drive home the day I ate the brownie, but thought that I was just extremely tired from training and travel. My family member sent a confession letter to the Olympic Committee immediately following the call. Words cannot express how devastated and remorseful I am for making such a big mistake. Although my actions were not deliberate, I know that I let down the entire nation, and for that I am truly sorry."
Here is an excerpt from the relative's apology letter to the IOC:
"…He had absolutely no idea that I dealt with marijuana at all, so it never would've crossed his mind. This is my entire fault. ...This was all a huge mistake. His hard work, and not only dedication to judo, but also being a good role model should not be down graded or punished for my selfishness and stupidity. I wish I could have thought of this possibility, but I couldn't have imagined this ever happening. He is one of the best judoka and people you could ever want to meet, and by all means does not deal with any illegal substances."
Delpopolo at Albany International Airport, before departing to London for the Olympics.
NEWS10 ABC
