The Moroccan Athlete Fouad Idbafdil participated in marathons in Marocco in May 2022, the United Arab Emirates in November 2022 and Saudi Arabia in February 2023 where he provided his samples.
Hereafter in March 2023 the Moroccan Anti-Doping Agency (AMAD) and in April 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reported multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete after his samples tested positive for the prohibited substances Erythropoietin (EPO) and Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (CERA).
Following notification by AMAD in March 2023 a provisional suspension was ordered. Initially the Athlete denied the intentional use of the substances and requested the AIU for a hearing. He stated that he previously had received medical treatments. However the AIU established that these treatments could not explain the positive test results.
Ultimately in December 2023 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.
The AIU finds that the Athlete's 3 anti-doping rule violations shall be considered together as one single first violation. Furthermore the AIU deems that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case because the Athlete had used 2 prohibited substances for months.
Therefore the AIU decides on 14 December 2023 to impose a 6 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 14 March 2023.
