In November 2022 the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Bolivian Athlete Basco Mamani after his sample, provided during 2022 South America Games, tested positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol.
As a result on 30 March 2023 ODESUR ruled that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation. Hereafter the case was referred to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to consider consequences to be imposed on the Athlete.
Following notification in July 2023 a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal.
The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that in October 2022 he suffered from a cold and consulted a doctor when his condition deteriorated.
Thereupon he receiveid from the pharmacy the wrong medication Ambroterol instead of the prescribed Ambroxol. He claimed that when he contacted the pharmacy and his doctor he was told that both medications had the same composition and were valid, although both people lacked doping knowledge.
The Athlete acknowledged that he had not checked his medication before using, nor mentioned his medication to his sport doctors at the Games when he received further medical treatment. Because he was so sick at the Games he also failed to mention properly all his medication on the Doping Control Form.
The AIU contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Furthermore the AIU deemed that the Athlete was not credible because of several inconsistencies in his conduct, his evidence and his testimonies.
In view of the evidence the Panel concludes that the Athlete had demonstrated how the prohibited substance had entered his system. Yet, he failed to establish that the violation was not intentional.
The Panel determines that without any precautions the Athlete clearly had acted recklessly with his medication. He failed to check the ingredients of the mediation with anyone, not even with his sports doctor, neither did he even look at the label of the medication.
Therefore the Panel decides on 5 December 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 19 July 2023.
