U.S. Weightlifting Athlete Alissandra Hipona Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation
Press Release
10th November 2020
USADA announced today that Alissandra Hipona, 34, of Vienna, Va., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a two-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation involving her possession and use and/or attempted use of a prohibited substance
In addition to education and testing, robust anti-doping programs enable investigations stemming from various sources, including tips (like those received from the USADA 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.
A USADA investigation into the shipment of prohibited substances from Transformix Peptides, an online seller of anabolic agents, led USADA to discover that Hipona made an online purchase of a product containing anastrozole on July 13, 2017, which was shipped to her home.
Anastrozole 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.
Hipona’s two-year period of ineligibility began on October 7, 2020, the date she accepted a provisional suspension. In addition, Hipona has been disqualified from competitive results obtained on and subsequent to July 13, 2017, the date on which she purchased anastrozole, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
