In July 2018 the International Cycling Union (UCI) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the French cyclist Jérôme Pulidori after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Presnisolone and Prednisone without a valid TUE. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal.
The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substances. With medical information he demonstrated that he had used prescribed medication as treatment for his condition.
The Athlete made an application for a retroactive TUE which was rejected by the AFLD in January 2019 and, when appealed by the Athlete, again rejected in April 2019.
The Athlete made several requests for extention of the proceedings while he rejected and Acceptance of Sanction with a proposed sanction of 12 months. Further he complained that the UCI had imposed moral harassment, psychological violence and financial blackmail, and any other form of pressure on him.
UCI accepted that the violation was not intentional, that the substances were used for medical treatment, and that the Athlete had established how these substances had entered his system.
The Sole Arbitrator agrees that the violation was not intentional but deems that the Athlete had acted negligently since he had failed to research his medication for prohibited substances before using.
The Tribunal considers that there were substantial delays in the proceedings and backdated the commencement of the sanction while the Athlete had in fact already served the sanction during the period of the provisional suspension.
Therefore the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 31 March 2021 to impose a fine and a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting backdated on the date of the sample collection, i.e. 29 March 2018.
Costs of the UCI for the results management, the sample analysis and the documentation packages shall be borne by the Athlete.