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The ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision regarding Robert Stannard

The ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision regarding Robert Stannard

The Tribunal found that Robert Stannard committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method due to unexplained abnormalities in his Biological Passport* in 2018 and 2019. These abnormalities were thoroughly followed up and investigated by the ITA after the UCI delegated its operational anti-doping program to the independent organisation in the beginning of 2021. As a consequence, the Tribunal has imposed a four-year period of suspension on the rider as well as a monetary fine corresponding to 70% of his average annual salary in 2018 and 2019.

In accordance with the applicable rules, i.e. the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the Tribunal decided that the period of suspension shall start on 17 August 2018, i.e. the day of the appearance of the first abnormality, taking into account the delay with which the rider’s abnormalities were communicated to the UCI.

The decision is not final as it can be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by the rider, his National Federation and National Anti-Doping Agency, the UCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) within one month. The decision will be published on the UCI website once final.

The ITA will not comment further on the matter.

Independent Arbitrator Imposes Four-Year Sanction on Swimming Athlete Kensey McMahon for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

Independent Arbitrator Imposes Four-Year Sanction on Swimming Athlete Kensey McMahon for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

USADA announced today that an independent arbitrator has rendered a decision in the case of swimming athlete Kensey McMahon of Tuscaloosa, Ala. After an evidentiary hearing on May 2, 2024, where both McMahon and USADA were provided a full opportunity to present their cases and witnesses to the independent arbitrator, the arbitrator determined that McMahon will receive a four-year sanction after testing positive for vadadustat during an in-competition drug test at the Phillips 66 National Championships on July 1, 2023. McMahon and USADA mutually agreed to delay the arbitration hearing while McMahon remained provisionally suspended so that she could investigate the source of her positive test.

Vadadustat is a non-specified substance in the category of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the World Aquatics Doping Control Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

In cases involving a positive test for a non-specified substance such as vadadustat, an athlete is required to prove that their use of the prohibited substance was not intentional in order to qualify for a reduction from the default four-year sanction under the rules. McMahon received a four-year sanction because she was unable to establish through concrete evidence that her violation was not intentional. The arbitrator did not conclude that McMahon intended to cheat, only that she could not meet her burden of proof under the rules.

McMahon’s four-year period of ineligibility began on July 7, 2023, the date she was provisionally suspended. In addition, McMahon has been disqualified from all competitive results on and after July 1, 2023, the date of her positive test, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.

The decision, as well as all other arbitral decisions, can be found here.

The ITA reports that three Ukrainian weightlifters have committed anti-doping rule violations within a period of 12 months

The ITA reports that three Ukrainian weightlifters have committed anti-doping rule violations within a period of 12 months

The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirms that samples it collected out-of-competition (OOC) on 27 October 2022 from Ukrainian weightlifters Ruslan Kozhakin and Bohdan Taranenko returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF)[1] for the presence of the prohibited substance trimetazidine, a non-specified prohibited substance, according to the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Following the results management process, the ITA submitted the matters for adjudication to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD). On 24 May 2024, CAS ADD issued its final decision confirming that the athletes had committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and sanctioned Ruslan Kozhakin and Bohdan Taranenko each with a period of ineligibility of 48 months from 2 December 2022 and a disqualification of their competitive results from 27 October 2022 onwards. The athletes have also been granted a 6-month credit for providing Substantial Assistance[2] to the Ukrainian National Anti-Doping Organization.

Additionally, an OOC sample collected by the ITA from Alina Marushchak on 10 March 2023 returned an AAF for the presence of the prohibited substance hydrochlorothiazide, a specified prohibited substance, according to the prohibited list.

The case was resolved via an agreement on consequences pursuant to article 8.3.1 of the anti-doping rules of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF ADR, and the equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code). The athlete accepted a period of ineligibility of two years from 13 April 2023 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 10 March 2023 onwards.

Given that the three athletes from the Ukrainian Weightlifting Federation have committed ADRVs within a 12-month period, this has triggered the Article 12.3[3] of the IWF ADR and provisions of the IWF Olympic Qualification System (OQS). As a result, the matter will now be submitted to IWF’s Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel to impose appropriate consequences.

No further comments will be made on this case.

AIU Bans Kipruto For Six Years For ABP Violation

AIU Bans Kipruto For Six Years For ABP Violation

5 JUNE 2024, MONACO: World Championship 10,000 metres bronze medallist and 10-kilometre road-running world record-holder, Rhonex Kipruto, has been banned for six years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after a Disciplinary Tribunal ruled irregularities in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) resulted from doping.

After considering submissions from experts, the Tribunal rejected Kipruto’s defence, concluding the “cause for the abnormalities in the ABP is more likely to be due to blood manipulation” such as through the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rEPO), while pointing out there was “no other plausible explanation” for the abnormal values

The 24-year-old Kenyan was provisionally suspended on 11 May last year under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) – ADR 2.2 relating to the “Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method” – after irregularities were detected in his ABP dating back to July 2018. He is now banned until 10 May 2029 and will have some top honours disqualified.

Between 9 July 2018 and 15 March 2022, 32 blood samples from the athlete were collected and analysed to create his biological passport. Three experts subsequently analysed the passport, while also reviewing the athlete’s Whereabouts along with his competition schedule and deemed in a unanimous opinion that doping was “highly likely” based on a number of “abnormal haematological patterns”.

Kipruto denied the Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) charge, contending that his ABP abnormalities were due to multiple factors such as natural and specific characteristics of his body, various medical conditions and health conditions.

“Having reviewed and considered carefully the totality of the Athlete’s evidence, the Panel

is comfortably satisfied that (the AIU) has discharged its burden of proof and established that the Athlete has committed an ADRV,” the panel of the Disciplinary Tribunal concluded.

In reaching its decision, the Disciplinary Tribunal said “the Expert Panel thoroughly analysed all arguments put forward by the Athlete and clearly demonstrated each time, by presenting supporting scientific evidence, why the Athlete’s arguments could not explain the abnormalities in the Passport”.

In the Panel’s view:

  • the Athlete was involved in a deliberate and sophisticated doping regime over a long period of time in order to artificially enhance his performance through doping.
  • Several abnormalities found in the Athlete’s ABP were linked to important competitions including the Valencia Half Marathon in 2020 and Kenyan Olympic Trials in 2021.
  • Blood doping outside of competitions can also be used to gain an advantage as it permits more intense training and this has an obvious effect on performance even after a significant period of time. This is corroborated by the fact that in recent years many athletes have been found positive for EPO far outside of competition.

Considering the case’s aggravating circumstances, the Tribunal imposed the maximum period of ineligibility of six years and also disqualified Kipruto’s competitive results from 2 September 2018 to 11 May 2023. This means the athlete’s 10-kilometre road-running world record in Valencia in 2020; 10,000 metres bronze medal in the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha and 10,000 metres victory in the 2019 Stockholm Diamond League, among many other honours, will be annulled.

“The ABP is a critical tool in the quest to combat doping in elite athletes and this decision upholds important principles relating to ABP cases,” said AIU Head Brett Clothier.

“It can be difficult to directly detect the substances or methods used by sophisticated dopers, but the ABP gives us a chance to observe the telltale signs of blood doping over time. For this reason, the AIU conducted more than 4,700 ABP tests in 2023 on elite athletes and we will continue to invest heavily in our ABP programme going forward.”

The ABP, introduced in 2009 to fight blood doping, is an electronic record that collects an athlete’s biological data over time to indirectly detect the effects of doping. The ABP collates data including an athlete’s haemoglobin concentration and percentage of immature red blood cells (reticulocytes) and identifies unusual variations using a statistical model. The anonymised data is analysed by independent experts and, for a case to proceed, three of them must unanimously conclude that doping is likely

This decision is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Details here: https://bit.ly/World-Athletics-v-Rhonex-Kipruto-Decision

Weightlifter Songhwan (Alan) Park Sanctioned

Weightlifter Songhwan (Alan) Park Sanctioned

Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges that Australia Weightlifting Federation (AWF) has imposed a three-year ban on athlete Songhwan (Alan) Park for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance/s and/or its metabolite and Use and Possession of Prohibited Substances. 

Mr Park, a Masters athlete, returned an Adverse Analytical Finding from an In-Competition doping control test on 15 May 2022 during the Queensland Weightlifting Association State Masters Championships. 

Mr Park’s sample was analysed at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, part of the National Measurement Institute, and the presence of prohibited substances LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) and its metabolite Di-hydroxy LGD-4033, RAD140, Higenamine, and N,N-Dimethyl Phenethylamine (DMPEA) were detected. 

The substances LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) and RAD140, known as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), are classified as Class S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents) substances and are prohibited at all times. Higenamine is classified as a Class S3 (Beta-2 Agonists) substance and is also prohibited at all times. N,N-Dimethyl Phenethylamine (DMPEA) is classified as a Class S6 (Stimulants) substance and is prohibited In-Competition only. 

It was also determined that: 

  • On and/or before 15 May 2022, Mr Park used LGD-4033 (Ligandrol); and/or RAD140; and/or Higenamine. 
  • On 15 May 2022, Mr Park used the Prohibited Substance DMPEA. 
  • From on and/or around 10 February 2021 to on and/or around 15 May 2022, Mr Park possessed LGD-4033 (Ligandrol); and/or RAD140. 

Mr Park’s ban, commencing on 15 May 2022, was reduced by 12 months following a full admission of the alleged anti-doping rule violations. 

Mr Park is ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 15 May 2025. He is also not permitted to compete in a non-Signatory professional league or Event organised by a non-Signatory International Event organisation or a non-Signatory national-level Event organisation. 

The ITA reports that three Turkish weightlifters have committed anti-doping rule violations within a period of 12 months

The ITA reports that three Turkish weightlifters have committed anti-doping rule violations within a period of 12 months

The International Testing Agency (ITA) confirms as follows:

  1. A sample collected in-competition (IC) by the ITA from Turkish weightlifter Hakan Sukru Kurnaz returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF)[1] for the presence of methasterone metabolite, a non-specified prohibited substance, according to the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The athlete was able to establish that the presence of methasterone metabolite in his sample was through use of a contaminated supplement. The case was resolved via an agreement on consequences pursuant to article 8.3.1 of the anti-doping rules of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF ADR, and the equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code). The athlete accepted a period of ineligibility of 22 months from 26 May 2023 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 21 April 2023 onwards.
  1. A sample collected IC by the ITA from Turkish weightlifter Pelinsu Bayav returned AAFs for the presence of methasterone, stanozolol metabolites, methyltestosterone metabolite and clenbuterol, non-specified prohibited substances, according to the prohibited list of WADA. The athlete admitted to the violation under Article 10.8.1 IWF ADR and the case was resolved via an agreement on consequences pursuant to article 8.3.1 IWF ADR. The athlete accepted a period of ineligibility of 36 months from 26 May 2023 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 15 April 2023 onwards.
  1. Turkish weightlifter Dogan Donen has committed an anti-doping rule violation under article 2.4 of the IWF ADR namely the occurrence of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.[2] The athlete accepted the consequences of the violation, and the ITA issued a sanctioning decision under Article 8.3.3 of the IWF ADR imposing a period of ineligibility of 24 months from 8 April 2024 and the disqualification of all competitive results from 1 April 2023 onwards.

Given that three athletes from the Turkish Weightlifting Federation have committed anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) within a 12-month period, this has triggered the Article 12.3[3] of the IWF ADR and provisions of the IWF Olympic Qualification System (OQS). As a result, the matter has been submitted to IWF’s Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel to impose appropriate consequences.

No further comments will be made on these cases.

The ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision concerning Miguel Ángel López

The ITA welcomes the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision concerning Miguel Ángel López

The Tribunal found Miguel Ángel López guilty of an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) for use and possession of a prohibited substance (Menotropin)*, concomitantly with the 2022 Giro d’Italia, and has imposed a four-year suspension on the rider.

In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the UCI Anti-Doping Rules, the period of suspension started on 25 July 2023 and will remain in force until 24 July 2027.

The disciplinary proceeding was initiated following an investigation conducted by the ITA based on evidence obtained from the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Spanish Anti-Doping Organisation (CELAD) in the so-called Operation “Ilex” concerning Dr Marcos Maynar. This valuable collaboration demonstrates the importance of intelligence-sharing between the ITA, National Anti-Doping Organisations and law enforcement authorities.

In line with the Procedural Rules of the UCI Tribunal, the decision will be published on the UCI website. The decision may be appealed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within one month.

The ITA will not comment further on the matter.

As a reminder, the UCI delegated the operational activities of its anti-doping programme to the International Testing Agency (ITA) in January 2021. Since then, cycling’s clean sport efforts have been led by the ITA Cycling Unit, which is dedicated specifically to all disciplines of cycling. The UCI and the ITA are bound by a service agreement which guarantees that the ITA operates in an independent manner.

Please find the UCI statement on the matter here.