In April 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Chinese Athlete Xin Zhang after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Metandienone. Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete filed a statement in her defence.

The Athlete explained that in March 2023 she had attended a group training run and that there had been een mix up of drink bottles. The drink bottle she had prepared for was similar to the drink bottle prepared by others.

The Athlete had contacted the participants who had attended the group training run. She claimed that a Training Partner had added Dianabol (Metandienone) into his bottle to improve muscle strength.

AIU requested assistance from the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) with an investigation into the Athlete's explanation. CHINADA's investigation confirmed that the Training Partner had admitted the use of Methandienone in his drink bottle. Besides he had also purchased and used other banned substances.

The AIU concludes that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation and that she failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Thereupon in September 2023 the AIU submitted a Notice of Charge to the Athlete and an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

Hereafter the Athlete gave a timely admission, waived her right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. Because she had signed and submitted the Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 18 October 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 April 2023.

In February 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Winnie Jemutai Boinett after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Testosterone and its metabolites.

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. The Athlete explained that she had received several medical treatments in hospitals for her injury without having corroborating documents.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Because she had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 11 March 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 29 February 2024.

In November 2022 the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Bolivian Athlete Basco Mamani after his sample, provided during 2022 South America Games, tested positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol.

As a result on 30 March 2023 ODESUR ruled that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation. Hereafter the case was referred to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to consider consequences to be imposed on the Athlete.

Following notification in July 2023 a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that in October 2022 he suffered from a cold and consulted a doctor when his condition deteriorated.

Thereupon he receiveid from the pharmacy the wrong medication Ambroterol instead of the prescribed Ambroxol. He claimed that when he contacted the pharmacy and his doctor he was told that both medications had the same composition and were valid, although both people lacked doping knowledge.

The Athlete acknowledged that he had not checked his medication before using, nor mentioned his medication to his sport doctors at the Games when he received further medical treatment. Because he was so sick at the Games he also failed to mention properly all his medication on the Doping Control Form.

The AIU contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Furthermore the AIU deemed that the Athlete was not credible because of several inconsistencies in his conduct, his evidence and his testimonies.

In view of the evidence the Panel concludes that the Athlete had demonstrated how the prohibited substance had entered his system. Yet, he failed to establish that the violation was not intentional.

The Panel determines that without any precautions the Athlete clearly had acted recklessly with his medication. He failed to check the ingredients of the mediation with anyone, not even with his sports doctor, neither did he even look at the label of the medication.

Therefore the Panel decides on 5 December 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 19 July 2023.

In 2016, Professor Richard McLaren issued two reports about systemic doping in Russia. These reports identified a significant number of Russian athletes who were involved in, or benefitted from, the doping schemes and practices that he uncovered.

Hereafter in January 2019 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recovered the internal database of the Moscow Laboratory (LIMS). Following investigation of allegations of organized doping practices, and in particular of the LIMS, WADA provided international federations with investigation reports on the athletes implicated in these organized doping practices.

These investigation reports revealed that prohibited substances has been established in the samples of the Athlete Victoriya Sudarušhkina. These 4 samples were provided by the Athlete in February 2013 and in June 2014 and thereupon deliberately reported as negative by the Moscow laboratory.

As a result in February 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for the use of the prohibited substances Enobosarm (Ostarine) and Trenbolone in 2013 and 2014. After notification the Athlete failed to respond to the AIU communications.

Without the Athlete's response the AIU deems that she has waived her right to a hearing, to have accepted the asserted anti-doping rule violation and the sanction rendered by the AIU. The AIU considers that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case that justifies the imposition of a more severe sanction.

Therefore the AIU decides on 21 February 2024 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the decision. All the Athlete's results from 28 February 2013 until the date of the decision are disqualified with all of the resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, titles, points, prize money and prizes.

In November 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Thomas Kibet Kutere after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone).

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. He stated that he had used painkillers for his injury and that he was unaware that they contained a prohibited substance.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Because he had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form he received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 19 December 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 3 November 2023.

In December 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Uzbek Athlete Sitora Khamidova after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, Heptaminol and Octopamine.

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. She also signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substances and assumed that the products she had used were contaminated. She explained which supplements and medication she had used, although prior she had not mentioned these products on the Doping Control Form.

In February 2024 the Athlete's Coach admitted that he had purchased supplements and sport drinks that possibly contained these prohibited substances. He denied that he had acted intentionally, nor that he was aware that these products contained these banned substances.

The AIU deems that both the Athlete and the Coach failed to demonstrate with corroborating evidence that these products contained the prohibited substance. They also failed to establish that the violations were not intentional.

Furthermore the AIU finds that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case because the Athlete had used multiple banned substances. Due to she had signed and submitted the Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 6 March 2024 to impose a 5 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 14 December 2023.

Related case:

IAAF 2019 IAAF vs Sarah Chepchirchir
November 28, 2019

In December 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Sarah Chepchirchir after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Testosterone.

Previously the Athlete had served a sanction of 4 years, until 9 February 2023, because of the abnormalities in her Athlete Biological Passport.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The AIU established that this is the Athlete's second anti-doping rule violation and that she failed at all to respond at all or to provide any information to the AIU.

Because of the Athlete's failure to respond within the set deadline the AIU in February 2024 determines that she was deemed to have waived her right to a hearing, to have admitted the anti-doping rule violation and to have accepted the consequences.

Therefor the AIU decides on 13 February 2024 to impose an 8 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 22 December 2023.

The Moroccan Athlete Fouad Idbafdil participated in marathons in Marocco in May 2022, the United Arab Emirates in November 2022 and Saudi Arabia in February 2023 where he provided his samples.

Hereafter in March 2023 the Moroccan Anti-Doping Agency (AMAD) and in April 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reported multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete after his samples tested positive for the prohibited substances Erythropoietin (EPO) and Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (CERA).

Following notification by AMAD in March 2023 a provisional suspension was ordered. Initially the Athlete denied the intentional use of the substances and requested the AIU for a hearing. He stated that he previously had received medical treatments. However the AIU established that these treatments could not explain the positive test results.

Ultimately in December 2023 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

The AIU finds that the Athlete's 3 anti-doping rule violations shall be considered together as one single first violation. Furthermore the AIU deems that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case because the Athlete had used 2 prohibited substances for months.

Therefore the AIU decides on 14 December 2023 to impose a 6 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 14 March 2023.

In December 2023 and in January 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported 2 anti-doping rule violations against the Bahrain Kenyan Athlete Rosemary Mumo Katua. The AIU established that her two samples, provided in October and in November 2023, tested positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone acetonide.

Previously the Athlete was sanctioned for 3 years until December 2020 for the presence in her sample of the banned substance Nandrolone.

Following the two notifications in December 2023 and in January 2024 the Athlete timely admitted both violations, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. The Athlete also filed an application for a retroactive TUE, yet this was denied due to her application was returned to the Athlete as incomplete.

The AIU finds that the Athlete had committed a second anti-doping rule violation and that both reported violations shall be considered as one single anti-doping rule violation. Further the AIU considers that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and that she timely had admitted both reported violations.

Therefore the AIU decides on 7 March 2024 to impose a reduced 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the first admission, i.e. 19 December 2023.

In September 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Rebecca Jepchirchir Korir after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Methylprednisolone.

Following notification the Athlete explained that she had used painkillers for her injury that might have caused the positive test. Although the violation was considered not intentional the AIU finds that she failed to explain how the prohibited substance had entered her system.

Thereupon a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete failed to respond to the AIU communications. Because she did not respond within the set deadline the AIU determines in November 2023 that the Athlete was deemed to have waived her right for a hearing and accepted the consequences.

Therefore the AIU decides on 13 December 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 2 November 2023.