In March 2012 the International Skating Union (ISU) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the American Athlete Mary Grace after her sample tested positive for the prohibited pseudoephedrine with a concentration above the WADA threshold.
The Athlete submitted that she suffered from nasal and chest congestion prior to and during the championships where she provided a sample. Therefore she used the medication Allegra D (fexofenadine) since 2009 and mentioned the use of Allegra D to the Doping Control Officer, which the DCO erroneously recorded as “daily”. The Athlete stated that she didn’t know that Allegra D contained a level of pseudoephendrine, which is only allowed to be used with training and when tested “out-of-competition”.
The Panel accepted the Athlete’s statement and concludes that she had no intention to enhance her sport performance with a concentration of the substance found in her sample too low to have a performance enhancing effect.
Considering the Athlete bears a modest degree of fault, the ISU Disciplinary Commission decides on 31 May 2012 to impose a 4 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 15 January 2012.
