In September 2004 the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) has reported an anti-doping violation against the Athlete after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance marijuana (cannabis) at a concentration of 22,6 ng/mL with automatic forfeiture of her gold medal and points.
The Athlete filed statements with evidence in her defence and was heard for the SDRCC Anti-Doping Tribunal.
The Athlete stated that she used only marijuana until April 2004 due to her shoulder injury and depression. She considered using marijuana during training and racing unsafe and didn’t know the competition threshold for marijuana had been changed from 40 ng/mL to 15 ng/mL.
The Athlete and her husband, sustained by other witnesses, testified she didn’t smoke marijuana during the competition where she tested positive.
They stated that during training and prior to the competition a majority of the athletes smoked cannabis in their hotel and therefore made it difficult to stay away from the smoke of marijuana.
The Athlete argued that she was exposed to second-hand marijuana smoke as explaination for the positive test.
Considering the circumstances the arbitrator accepts the Athlete’s statements and evidence and concludes that the Athlete inhaled high levels of second-hand smoke while training for the competition.
With forfeiture of her gold medal and points the Tribunal decides on 14 April 2005 to impose only a warning and a reprimand on the Athlete.
