In July 2015 the International University Sports Federation (FISU) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Chinese Athlete Xiaohan Yu after her A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance sibutramine.
After notification by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the BWF Hearing Panel.
The Athlete stated that the only possibility for her to get the substance in her system was the Exclusive Pill she took. Also the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) confirmed that analysis results showed that sibutramine was detected in these pills.
The Hearing Panel accepts that the Athlete’s violation was non intentional and that the positive test is without doubt caused by a contaminated natural supplement.
The Panel emphasizes that this case is a classic example of the dangers of consuming any product that has not been thoroughly tested by a responsible pharmaceutical institution or medical professional.
The Panel concludes that by only not taking the Exclusive Pill could the Athlete avoid being negligent and that her degree of negligence is rather light.
Therefore the BWF Hearing Panel decides on 11 February 2016 to impose a 7 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. 12 July 2015.
