In July 2015 the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the American softball Athlete J-4072 (the Athlete) after her A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substances oxilofrine (methylsynephrine) and phenethylamine. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and was heard for the Japan Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.
The Athlete stated that she had used a contaminated supplement Dexaprine XR and that she had researched the ingredients of the product before using. Without intention to enhance her performance the Athlete requested for a reduced sanction.
The Panel finds it sufficiently possible that an “official” website of the manufacturer of these supplements is not a reliable source to obtain confirmation about the safety of supplements. Therefore the Athlete should have confirmed saftety with careful consideration of such risks as well. The Panel considers that the American Athlete received in Japan relevant anti-doping information about the contamination risks in supplements only in the Japanese language although previously in the US softball team she had received this information in the English language.
With No Significant Fault or Negligence the Japan Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel accepts that the Athlete’s violation was non intentional and decides on 8 December 2015 to impose a 8 month period of ineligibility starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 7 July 2015.
