U.S. Cycling Athlete Flavia De Maria Oliveira Paparella Granted a Reduced Sanction
Press Release
5th January 2021
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that cycling athlete Flavia De Maria Oliveira Paparella, of Castro Valley, Calif., is entitled to a reduction in her suspension due to a change in the applicable rules. Paparella served almost three months of the six-month suspension that she accepted on October 16, 2020. The remainder of her period of ineligibility has been terminated.
Paparella accepted a six-month period of ineligibility under the then-applicable rules after testing positive for vilanterol in an in-competition drug test collected at the Tour of the Southern Highlands on March 1, 2020. USADA announced the violation on October 19, 2020.
Paparella accepted the sanction prior to the implementation of the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), which is the latest version of the uniform set of anti‐doping rules that have been adopted by International Federations worldwide, including the International Cycling Union (UCI). Under Article 27.6 of the 2021 Code, which took effect on January 1, 2021, athletes may petition National Anti-Doping Organizations like USADA to consider a reduction in the period of ineligibility when the substance for which they are serving the period of ineligibility is removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. Vilanterol, the substance Paparella tested positive for, is now permitted under the 2021 WADA Prohibited List when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended daily dosage.
On January 1, 2021, Paparella requested that USADA terminate the remaining portion of her period of ineligibility pursuant to Article 27.6. USADA granted Paparella’s request and ended her period of ineligibility as of January 4, 2021.
