Mr. Ivan Palacios is a Colombian Athlete in the sport of IPC Powerlifting. On 28 March 2014, the Athlete competed at the 2014 Para South American Games in Santiago, Chile, where he provided a sample for doping control.
In April 2014 the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The notification included a form titled “Letter of Decision” for the Athlete to complete and return. The Athlete returned the signed Letter of Decision to the IPC stated that he did not accept either that he had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation or the consequences as set out in the Notification of an Adverse Analytical Finding. The Athlete filed a statement with evidence in his defence and was heard for the IPC Anti-Doping Committee.
The Athlete stated that he suffered from arterial hypertension since March 2012. He was treated in a hospital and he used losartan and hydrochlorothiazide as prescribed medication, as sustained by the submitted medical evidence. The Athlete did not apply for a TUE, nor did he reseach the ingredients of his medication befor using.
The Committee concludes that the Athlete used the substance for legitimate medical purposes and without intention to enhance his sport performance. Also the substance wasn’t used to loose weight, due to Athlete’s weight was below the limit of his category.
Considering the circumstance the IPC Anti-Doping Committee recommends the following to the IPC Governing Board:
(a.) pursuant to Article 7.5 of the Code, confirmation of the provisional suspension from the date of notification, 30 April 2014;
(b.) pursuant to Article 9 of the Code, disqualification of the results obtained in the competition on 28 March 2014, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes;
(c.) pursuant to Article 10.1 of the Code, disqualification of all of the Athlete’s individual results obtained in the Event (26-30 March 2014) with all consequences, including forfeiture of all medals, points and prizes;
(d.) pursuant to Article 10.4 of the Code, a one (1) year period of ineligibility shall be imposed on the Athlete;
(e.) while the period of ineligibility would normally start on the date of the Governing Board’s decision (Article 10.9 of the Code), here pursuant to Article 10.9.2 of the Code (timely admission) the period of ineligibility shall start on the date of sample collection, 28 March 2014 and end on 27 March 2015;
(f.) pursuant to Article 10.11 of the Code and the IPC Handbook, Section 2, Chapter 1.2 (‘Rules on the imposition of financial sanctions for anti-doping rule violations’), a financial sanction of EUR 750 shall be imposed on the Athlete.
On 22 June 2014 the IPC Governing Board accepted the recommendation of the IPC Anti-Doping Committee.
