ITF 2006 ITF vs Sesil Karatantcheva

Related case:

CAS 2006_A_1032 Sesil Karatantcheva vs ITF
July 3, 2006

In September 2005 the International Tennis Federation (ITF) reported 2 anti-doping rule violations against the minor tennis player Sesil Karatantcheva after her samples - provided in France in May 2005 and in Japan in July 2005 - tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone).

Following assessment of the evidence in this case the ITF Tribunal rejects the Athlete's defence that the positive test results are on the balance of probabilities the result of endogenous production of Nandrolone by the Athlete consequent on her pregnancy.

Therefore on 11 January 2006 the Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal:

1. finds that the doping offence specified in the notice of charge set out in the ITF’s letter to the player dated 27 September 2005 has been committed by the player: namely that a prohibited substance, 19-norandrosterone, in a concentration above the reporting threshold of 2 ng/ml, has been found to be present in the urine sample that the player provided at the French Open on 31 May 2005;
2. finds that the doping offence specified in the notice of charge set out in the ITF’s letter to the player dated 25 October 2005 has been committed by the player: namely that a prohibited substance, 19-norandrosterone, in a concentration above the reporting threshold of 2 ng/ml, has been found to be present in the urine sample that the player provided out of competition in Tokyo on 5 July 2005;
3.  in the case of both doping offences, rejects the player’s defences founded on alleged absence of a valid contract, alleged lack of jurisdiction and/or lack of consent, and rejects the defence that the positive test results are on the balance of probabilities the result of endogenous production of nandrolone by the player's pregnancy;
4. declares, however, that by reason of Article M.6.1 of the Programme the two offences are to be treated as one single first offence for the purpose of the imposition of a period of ineligibility under Article M.2 of the Programme;
5. orders that the player’s individual result must be disqualified in respect of the French Open held at Roland-Garros, France, and in consequence rules that the ranking points and prize money obtained by the player through her participation in that event, must be forfeited;
6. orders, further, that the player’s individual results in all competitions subsequent to the French Open shall be disqualified and all prize money and ranking points in respect of those competitions forfeited;
7. declares that the player shall be ineligible for a period of two years commencing on 1 January 2006 from participating in any capacity in any event or activity (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes) authorised by the ITF or any national or regional entity which is a member of or is recognised by the ITF as the entity governing the sport of tennis in that nation or region.