Ms. Fatema Alhasan is a Syrian athlete in the sport of IPC Powerlifting, participating in the 2011 IPC Powerlifting Open International Championship in Amman, Jordan; and the 2011 IPC Khorfakkan International 3rd Championship in Khorfakkan, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against Ms. Fatema Alhasan (the Respondent) after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine (dimethylpentylamine).
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 27 October 2011.
Respondent returned the signed Letter of Decision to the IPC in a timely fashion. In the Letter of Decision, Respondent stated that she:
- had no valid TUE justifying the presence of the prohibited substance found in her sample;
- accepted the A sample analysis and waived the right for the B sample analysis;
- accepted to have committed an anti-doping rule violation;
- accepted a provisional suspension starting on the date of the notification of an adverse analytical finding; and
- waived the right to a Hearing.
On 28 October 2011, the IPC received an email from the National Paralympic Syria stating that the have decided to sanction the athlete for a period of one year.
On 16 October 2011 Respondent competed at the IPC Khorfakkan International 3rd Championship in Khorfakkan, United Arab Emirates. The IPC thereafter reported an anti doping rule violation against Respondent after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine (dimethylpentylamine).
On 24 November 2011, the IPC notified NPC Syria of the second Adverse Analytical Finding and issued a second Letter of Decision for the Respondent to complete and return to the IPC.
IPC considered these two cases as one Anti-Doping Rule Violation because both sample collections happened before the first Notification to Respondent was issued.
Multiple attempts by the IPC to contact NPC Syria by telephone and email were not successful.
On 24 January 2012, the IPC received a phone message from NPC Syria requesting clarification on the Respondent’s status. The IPC responded by email that the athlete was still provisionally suspended and gave the athlete another opportunity to schedule a hearing in het case. No response was received from NPC Syria.
The IPC Anti-Doping Committee recommends the following to the IPC Governing Board:
(a) Respondent’s individual result obtained at the 2011 Powerlifting Open International Championship in Amman, Jordan and at any other event from the date of 22 July 2011 onwards should be automatically disqualified, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes won;
(b) Respondent declared the use of Jack 3D, a medication that contains the prohibited substance found in her body. Therefore it seems that the use of that supplement was to enhance her athletic performance. A two-year period of ineligibility should be imposed on the Respondent.
(c) The Panel considers that there were delays not attributable to the Respondent in the reporting of the analysis and consequently the notification process. Therefore the panel considers that the period of ineligibility shall start on the date of sample collection 22 July 2011 and last until 21 July 2013; and
(d) A financial sanction of € 1.500,- should be imposed on the Respondent.
On 13 February 2012 the IPC Governing Board accepted the recommendation of the IPC Anti-Doping Committee.
