The ITA reports that Mixed Martial Arts athlete Ricardo Bachir has been sanctioned with a 4-year period of ineligibility
The International Testing Agency (ITA), leading an independent anti-doping program for the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), reports that Lebanese athlete Ricardo Bachir has been sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility after testing positive for the prohibited substance stanozolol.
The ITA confirms that mixed martial arts athlete Ricardo Bachir has been sanctioned with a 4-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) under article 2.1 and article 2.2 of the GAMMA Anti-Doping Rules (GAMMA ADR).
The sample of the athlete was collected by the ITA on 9 December 2023 in Bangkok (Thailand) during an in-competition anti-doping control at the 2023 World MMA Championships and yielded an adverse analytical finding¹ for the prohibited substance stanozolol.
Stanozolol is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List in the category S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids. It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a non-specified substance. Stanozolol is a synthetic anabolic steroid that promotes lean muscle growth and enhances strength.
On 26 February 2024, when notified about the case, the athlete was provisionally suspended with immediate effect.²
The athlete did not challenge the ADRV. Pursuant to article 7.10.2 and article 7.10.3 of the GAMMA ADR, the ITA issued a sanctioning decision³ imposing the applicable consequences, namely a period of ineligibility of four years from 26 February 2024 until 25 February 2028 and the disqualification of competitive results from 9 December 2023 onwards.
Parties with a right to appeal may challenge the decisions before the appeal division of CAS in accordance with article 13.2.3 of the GAMMA ADR.
The ITA will not comment further on this case.
¹ A report from a WADA-accredited laboratory that, consistent with the International Standard for Laboratories, establishes in a sample the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers or evidence of the use of a prohibited method.
² The information about the Provisional Suspension was publicly disclosed by the ITA shortly after its imposition: https://ita.sport/sanction/global-association-of-mixed-martial-arts-gamma/
³ When an athlete does not challenge the assertion of an ADRV and does not request a hearing, anti-doping organisations have the possibility to issue a written decision sanctioning the athlete and imposing the applicable consequences without having to refer the case to a hearing panel. This is provided in articles 7.10.2 and 7.10.3 of the GAMMA anti-doping rules and article 8.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code.
The original press release can be found here: (https://ita.sport/news/the-ita-reports-that-mixed-martial-arts-athlete-ricardo-bachir-has-been-sanctioned-with-a-4-year-period-of-ineligibility/)
