U.S. Weightlifting Athlete Taff Woolsey Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation
Press Release
28th July 2020
USADA announced today that Taff Woolsey, of Port Orchard, Washington, an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a two-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation involving his possession of a prohibited substance.
In addition to education and testing, robust anti-doping programs enable investigations stemming from various sources, including tips (Play Clean Tip Line) and whistleblowers. USADA investigations can reveal evidence about the actions of coaches, athletes, and support personnel who have engaged in, instigated, facilitated, or encouraged doping.
This type of non-analytical information prompted an investigation into Woolsey’s case, during which USADA obtained specific and credible evidence that starting on February 17, 2018, Woolsey, 48, purchased a product containing exemestane.
Exemestane is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Policy, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Woolsey’s two-year period of ineligibility began on July 17, 2020, the date he accepted a sanction. In addition, Woolsey has been disqualified from competitive results obtained on and subsequent to February 17, 2018, the date he purchased exemestane, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
