Deeja Youngquist, the Respondent, is an elite-level distance runner who provided an out-of-competition urine sample that tested positive for recombinant human erythropoetin (rhEPO)
Younquist provided the sample on March 16, 2004, and she was notified that het A sample was positive on April 12, six days after the Olympic Laboratory at UCLA provided the results to USADA. The B sample was tested on May 24. USADA received the B sample documents confirming the earlier test results on May 27, and thereafter requested additional materials from the laboratory, but did not send the athlete notice until June 28. Beginning on April 12, 2004, Youngquist had the opportunity to accept a provisional suspension. She did not do so until December 4, 2004.
Youngquist has been properly found to be in violation of Rule 32 of the IAAF Competition Rules. As been noted by panels confronting rhEPO in the past, the USOC laboratory tests applied here are scientifically valid, and this substance cannot be accidentally ingested through contaminated supplements or the like. For this violation, Youngquist is subject to the two-year sanction imposed by the IAAF Rules.
Decision and Award of the Arbitration Tribunal:
- Respondent, Deeja Youngquist, committed a doping violation.
- The minimum suspension for a first offender of two years is imposed, to take effect from December 4, 2004, and all competitive results from March 16, 2004 are cancelled.
