Related case:
CAS 2019_A_6313 Jarrion Lawson vs IAAF
March 6, 2020
In August 2018 the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the American Athlete Jarrion Lawson after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Trenbolone. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal.
The Athlete admitted the violation, accepted the test results and denied the intentional use of the substance. He asserted that the likely source of the Trenbolone was contaminated meat ingested in a Restaurant in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In support the Athlete produced evidence related to the Restaurant and the results of a hair analysis. Here the Athlete argued that the meat contained in the Restaurant ingested approximately 19 hours prior to his positive test came from a muscle which had received a direct injection through a Trenbolone implant.
Considering the evidence the Panel is prepared to accept that eating beef comprising the site of an implant that had been placed directly into the muscle and was contaminated with Trenbolone could result in the low concentration of 0.65 pg/ml found in the Athlete’s sample. Also the Panel is prepared to accept that placement of an implant directly into the muscle could occur, even if it would be contrary to US industry regulations.
The Panel is comfortable satisfied that the Athlete committed the Anti-Doping Rule Violation and does not accept that the meat the Athlete ate in the Restaurant was the likely source of the positive test.
As a result the Panel holds that the Athlete failed to prove that his admitted violation was not intentional. In the Panel’s view the Athlete has established a possible, but not a probable case of lack of intention.
Therefore the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal decides on 24 May 2019 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 3 August 2018.
