Related case:
CAS 2017_A_5112 Arsan Arashov vs ITF
November 21, 2017
In September 2016 the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the minor Kazakh player after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement with objections in his defence and he was heard for the ITF Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal.
The Athlete denied the intentional use of Meldonium and suggested that the sample containers might have been contaminated with Meldonium or the bottles of water from which he drank at the doping control station. He contended that the blood sample he provided the previous day did not show the presence of Meldonium and alleged that departures occurred of the applicable Rules and Standards.
The ITF rejected the Athlete’s contentions and explained that the previous collected blood sample had not been tested for Meldonium. The Athlete had failed to give a plausible explanation for the presence of Meldonium in his sample and no departures occurred from relevant procedures in this case.
The Tribunal was unable to accept the Athlete’s evidence and assertions and concludes that he indeed committed the anti-doping rule violation. Notwithstanding the Athlete’s firm denials, the Tribunal finds that he did in fact ingest Meldonium prior to the sample collection; he failed to assist the Tribunal with helpful and accurate evidence; and failed to establish that the violation was not intentional.
Therefore the ITF Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 10 April 2017 to impose a proportionate 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 30 September 2016.
