Related case:
CAS 2020_A_6747 Mehdi Sohrabi vs UCI
October 29, 2020
In July 2019 the UCI reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Iranian cyclist Mehdi Sohrabi after an UCI Expert Panel concluded unanimously in July 2018, and again in April 2019, that the Athlete’s hematological profile “highly likely” showed that he used a prohibited substance or a prohibited method: the use of EPO or Blood doping.
This conclusion of the UCI Expert Panel is based on assessment of blood samples, collected in the period from 24 September 2011 until 30 January 2018 reported in the Athlete’s Biological Passport (ABP).
It was determined that Sample 6 in the Athlete’s ABP was collected 10 days prior to the 2018 Asian Championships and flaged for highly abnormal values.
Previously the Athlete submitted an explanation to the UCI about the circumstances surrounding the collected samples which was rejected by the Expert Panel in April 2019.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete waived an Acceptance of Consequences, he filed a statement with evidence in his defence and he was heard for the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal.
The Athlete provided some explanations for the abnormal findings in his ABP, asserted that he was tested before without issues and claimed that in the matter of Sample 6 in his ABP there were departures of the ISTI. Because of the many irregularities that occurred during the blood collection for sample 6 he believed that this sample did not belong to him.
Considering the Athlete’s statements it is completely unclear for the Sole Arbitrator on what basis the Athlete claimed that Sample 6 did not belong to him. Since the Athlete did not contest the facts submitted by the UCI in a substantiated manner the Arbitrator finds that the UCI’s submissions are uncontested and that the Sample 6 originated from the Athlete.
The Sole Arbitrator establish that the alleged departures of the ISTI during the blood collection for Sample 6 had no impact on the test result and it was noted that the Athlete did not raise any objections at the time of the sample collection in January 2018.
The Arbitrator deems that the Athlete failed to produce any evidence that contradicts the findings of the Expert Panel and is comfortably satisfied that the Athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation in the form of a prohibited substance or prohibited method.
Therefore the UCI Anti-Doping Panel decides on 17 January 2020 to impose a fine and a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 3 July 2019. The UCI legal costs, the costs for the results management and the ABP documentation package shall be borne by the Athlete.
