In December 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Uzbek Athlete Sitora Khamidova after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, Heptaminol and Octopamine.
Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. She also signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.
The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substances and assumed that the products she had used were contaminated. She explained which supplements and medication she had used, although prior she had not mentioned these products on the Doping Control Form.
In February 2024 the Athlete's Coach admitted that he had purchased supplements and sport drinks that possibly contained these prohibited substances. He denied that he had acted intentionally, nor that he was aware that these products contained these banned substances.
The AIU deems that both the Athlete and the Coach failed to demonstrate with corroborating evidence that these products contained the prohibited substance. They also failed to establish that the violations were not intentional.
Furthermore the AIU finds that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case because the Athlete had used multiple banned substances. Due to she had signed and submitted the Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.
Therefore the AIU decides on 6 March 2024 to impose a 5 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 14 December 2023.
