In Mei 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Reuben Kiprop Kipyego. The AIU deemed that the Athlete had 3 Wherabouts Failures within a 12 month period:

• a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 8 September 2023;
• a Missed Test and Filing Failure on 5 January 2024; and
• a Filing Failure on 12 March 2024.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered while the Athlete failed to respond to the communications of the AIU. Because of his failure to respond to the charge within the set deadline the AIU deems that the Athlete has admitted the anti-doping rule violation, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the consequences thereupon.

Therefore the AIU decides on 17 July 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 27 Mai 2024.

In August 2023 NADO Flanders reported an anti-doping rule violations against the bodybuilder after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Hydrochlorothiazide and the presence of Salbutamol.

After notification the Athlete failed to respond, nor attended the hearing of the NADO Flanders Disciplinary Commission. The Commission rendered a decision in absentia of the Athlete.

Because she did not respond in March 2024 within the set deadline, the Disciplinary Commission determines that the Athlete was deemed to have waived her right for a hearing and accepted the consequences.

Therefore the NADO Flanders Disciplinary Commission decides on 28 May 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 15 August 2023.

Fees and expenses for this Commission shall be borne partially by the Athlete.

In September 2023 United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Finnish boxer Robert Helenius after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Clomifene. Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athelte filed a statement in his defence.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He assumed that the Clomifene entered his system through the consumption of eggs and chicken meat in his diet.

UKAD accepted that the the Athlete's violation was not intentional. However UKAD deemed that he failed to demonstrate with any corroborating evidence that eggs and chicken meat in question were the source of the prohibited substance.

Therefore UKAD decides on 27 June 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 18 September 2023.

In March 2024 Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the football player Inoke Taragalailai after his samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He requested for a proportional sanction and argued that there had been substantial delays in the proceedings.

DFSNZ accepted that the Athlete's use of Cannabis was not intentional, yet denied that there had been substantial delays. It deemed that the violation was in-competition and that there are no grounds for a proportional reduced sanction.

The Panel considered whether thare are grounds for a proportional reduced sanction and whether there had been substantial delays in the testing of the sample not attributed to the Panel. Because there was a Panel majority opinion there was also a dissenting decision rendered.

The Panel assessed and addressed the Parties arguments and a majority concludes that there are grounds for a proportional reduced sanction despite the violation was in-competition. In view of the circumstances the Panel majority agrees that there had been substantial delays not attributed to the Athlete.

Therefore the majority of the Panel decides on 3 July 2024 to impose an 8 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting backdated on 14 December 2023.

In September 2022 the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Spanish rider Agusti Juan Elias Lara after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the FEI Tribunal.

The Athlete accepted the test result and denied the intentional use of the substance. He requested for a reduced sanction and argued that he was tested before without issues.

With support of expert witnesses the Athlete argued that there was cross contamination with Clenbuterol. He explained that the substance entered his system when he administered a prescribed Spasmobronchal medication to his horse.

He asserted that during administration of this medication he didn't use protective gear whereas he was not warned by his veterinarian that this medication contained Clenbuterol. Further he acknowledged that he had not checked if his supplements contained banned substances.

FEI and its expert witnesses assessed and addressed the Athlete's evidence and deemed that the possibility was highly improbable of the Athlete's contamination by a Spasmobronchal medication being the source of the positive sample.

FEI considered that more likely sources existed from which the prohibited subsance may have entered his system. Consequently FEI contended that that the Athlete did not establish the source of the prohibited substance, nor evidence that he acted not intentionally.

The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation.

In view of the evidence the Panel finds that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional, nor the source of the prohibited substance. Moreover the Panel concludes that there are no grounds for a reduced sanction.

Therefore the FEI Tribunal decides on 4 June 2024 to impose a fine and a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 1 September 2022.

In July 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Daniel Muindi after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone).

After notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The AIU determines that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Because he had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form he received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 15 July 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 10 July 2024.

In May 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenya Athlete Judith Jerubet  after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substanceTriamcinolone acetonide.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. Thereupon the Athlete failed to respond to the AIU communications.

Because she did not respond within the set deadline the AIU determines in July 2024 that the Athlete was deemed to have waived her right for a hearing and accepted the consequences. Moreover the AIU determines that she had had failed to sign and submit the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

Therefore the AIU decides on 15 July 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 7 June 2024.

Related case:

TJD-AD 2023-017 Appeal Decision - Athletics
October 18, 2023

In October 2022 the Brazilian Doping Control Authority (ABCD) reported and an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for his 3 Whereabouts Failures within a 12 month period:

• a Filing Failure on 31 March 2021;
• a Missed Test on 8 November 2021;
• a Missed Test on 5 March 2022

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the Brazilian Sports Justice Anti-Doping Tribunal (TJD-AD).

The Athlete denied that he acted intentionally and argued that prior he had been tested multiple times without issues. He asserted that ABCD had to support athlete's when having problems updating their Whereabouts.

Regarding the first Whereabouts Failure he explained that in the United States he had technical problems in updating his Whereabouts. He showed his e-mails with ABCD about these problems and could only update his Whereabouts when he returned to Brazil.

Additionally his trip to the United States was complicated by the Covid pandemic. Moreover their trip was uncertain because they still had not received their tickets.

The Athlete acknowledged that his second Whereabouts Failure happened because he had already lef home at the end of the one-hour-timeslot while anticipating that no Doping Control Officer would come.

In the matter of the third Whereabouts Failure the Athlete confirmed with evidence that he was at home while his phone was off. Furthermore his intercom was faulty and the doorbell was not heard because of the noise outside the building and the noise of his airconditioning inside his house.

Regarding the first Whereabouts Failure ABCD contended that the Athlete had plenty opportunity to update his Whereabouts information before his trip to the United States. ABCD also rejected his justifications for his second and third Whereabouts Faulures.

Regard the first Whereabouts Failure the Rapporteur determines that the Athlete indeed had not timely updated his Whereabouts within the set deadline. Also for participation in the United States the schedules for the competitions were  already publicly available.

The Rapporteur corrects that the deadline to file Whereabouts was 31 March 2021 and not 20 March 2021. ABCD contended that they could solve these update problems within 48 hours, whereas the Athlete did not solve any of these technical problems during his 40 day stay in the United States.

Further the Rapporteur concludes that the Athlete acted negligently regarding his second and third Whereabouts Failures. Nevertheless he accepts that his violation was not intentional and that there are grounds for a reduced sanction.

Therefore the TJD-AD Panel decides on 3 May 2023 to impose a 16 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 6 October 2022.

Report of the Anti-Doping Audit Review Committee to the World Aquatics Bureau / Anti-Doping Audi Review Committee. - Lausanne, Switzerland : World Aquatics, 2024

On 3 May 2024, the World Aquatics Bureau established an anti‐doping audit review committee (the Committee) to review the matter involving 23 Chinese swimmers whose samples collected in 2021 were found to have trimetazidine (TMZ) present in them (the TMZ Case).

The Committee was tasked with examining the processes and procedures employed by World Aquatics, previously known as FINA, in addressing not only the TMZ Case, but all doping cases under its jurisdiction. The objective of this review was to provide World Aquatics with recommendations that could fortify its anti‐doping protocols for the future and ensure that its systems and controls are best‐in‐class.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee was not tasked to review if CHINADA’s decision not to sanction the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive to TMZ in 2021 was right. Similarly, the Committee was not tasked with reviewing whether CHINADA handled this matter in accordance with the World Anti‐Doping Code. No forensic examination or investigation of those issues took place in preparing this report.

This report represents the culmination of rigorous examination, thoughtful deliberation, and collaborative effort undertaken by the members of the Committee and the Aquatics community. Hundreds of pages of documentation were examined, a summary of the actions taken by FINA in 2021 in relation to this case, and the operating procedures of World Aquatics effective in 2021 (and still currently in force). The Committee also consulted with more than twenty Aquatic stakeholders, including international‐level swimmers and coaches, National Federations, the International Testing Agency (ITA), the Executive Director of World Aquatics, the Athletes Committee of World Aquatics, a member of the Anti‐Doping Advisory Body of the Aquatics Integrity Unit, a senior representative of the United States Anti‐Doping Agency (USADA), and other leading anti‐doping organisations.

Through this report, the Committee wishes to provide a comprehensive assessment of the processes involved and to offer recommendations that, once implemented, will assist in strengthening the fight against doping in Aquatic sports.

In July 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported and anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Lawrence Cherono after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Trimetazidine. 

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete responded and filed a statement in his defence.

The Athlete initially alleged that he had stomach problems and that a doctor had given him erythromycin and an injection with an unknown substance. However the AIU did not accept this explanation.

In August 2022 the Athlete explained that in May 2022 his wife inadvertently had provided him a Carvidon tablet instead of a painkiller for his muscle pain. He submitted medical documents issued by the Wayside Medical Centre about his wife's condition and the prescribed medications, including the Carvidon tablets.

The AIU determined that there were several inconsistencies in the Athlete's explanations about his wife's alleged medical treatments in May 2022. Therefore the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) conducted for the AIU an investigation into his explanations and supporting medical documents. 

In December 2022 ADAK's investigation revealed that the filed medical documents from the clinic were falsifications. Therupon between December 2022 and March 2024 further investigations conducted by the AIU and ADAK were obstructed, delayed and undermined by the clinic and the Athlete.

After a Court Order in April 2024 the clinic finally cooperated and stated that there were no records available about any medical treatment given to the Athlete's wife. The clinic confirmed that the medical documents in question were falsifications produced by unauthorised persons.

Consequently in June 2024 the AIU reported two anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete for:

• presence of a prohibited substance; and
• tampering with any part of the doping control.

After notification of these charges the Athlete gave a timely admission and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. The AIU deems that the Athlete had failed to demonstrate that these two violations were not intentional, nor exeptional circumstances for a reduced sanction.

Because the Athlete had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form he received a 1 year reduction from the AIU. The Athlete must serve the imposed two sanctions consecutively.

Therefore the AIU decides on 2 July 2024 to impose a 7 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 16 July 2022.