Youssef Assouggane is a Maroccan athlete in the sport of IPC Powerlifting.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has reported an anti doping rule violation against Mr. Youssef Assouggane (the Respondent) after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone (a metabolite of 19-norandrostenedione).
The IPC notified Respondent of the doping violation and ordered a provisional suspension. The notification letter enclosed a letter “Letter of Decision” for the Respondent to complete and return to IPC by no later that 11 November 2011.
In the Letter of Decision, Respondent stated that he:
- he no valid TUE justifying the presence of the prohibited substance found in his sample;
- accepted the A sample analysis and waived the right for the B sample analysis;
- accepted to have committed an anti-doping rule violation;
- that he accepted the consequences of the consequences of the anti-doping rule violation as proposed; and
- waived the right to a Hearing.
On 13 December 2013 a telephone conference was held with Respondent to ensure that Respondent understood the content of the Notification and the Letter of Decision as well as the consequences of accepting that he had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.
Respondent indicated that he had not received a translated version of the Notification but that the Vice President of his Federation translated the information to him. Respondent had no education in anti-doping matters and does not have any knowledge of his rights and the procedural steps.
The IPC Anti-Doping Committee rules as follows:
(a) Respondent is automatically disqualified of any competition results in connection with an in-competition test, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes obtained on the date op sample collection (18 October 2011) and disqualified of all competition results including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes obtained subsequent to the sample collection date;
(b) A two-year ineligibility period is imposed on Respondent, starting the date of Notification (4 November 2011); and
(c) A financial sanction of € 1.500,- is imposed on the Respondent.
On 10 January the IPC Governing Board accepted the recommendation of the IPC Anti-Doping Committee.
