In April 2007 the Comisión Antidopaje de Puerto Rico (CAPR), the Anti-Doping Commission of Puerto Rico, has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Parathlete Efrain Ortiz after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance stanozolol.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for CAPR Anti-Doping Panel.
The Athlete stated that, after investigation, one of his supplements he used contained the prohibited substance. The Athlete’s medication and supplements were provided to him by his wife and purchased in the Dominican Republic. Considering the exceptional circumstances in this case and without intention to enhance sport performance, the CAPR Anti-Doping Panel decided on 7 June 2007 not to sanction the Athlete.
Hereafter WADA appealed the Anti-Doping Panel decision of 7 June 2007 with the CAPR Appeal Commission. WADA requested to set aside the Panel decision and argued there were no grounds to impose a less severe sanction on the Athlete.
The Appeal Commission concludes that the Athlete acted negligently due to he failed to research the ingredients of his medication and supplements before using.
Therefore the CAPR Appeal Commission decides to set aside the Anti-Doping Panel decision of 7 June 2007 and to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the notification, i.e. on 3 April 2007.
