In January 2020 the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the French karting driver Leo Payen after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis.

After notification the Athlete admitted the violation and FIA accepted that the violation was not intentional. The parties reached an agreement which was approved by the FIA Anti-Doping Disciplinairy Committee. Here the Panel considered that there were delays in the proceedings not attributed to the Athlete.

Therefore the FIA Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee decides on 4 June 2021 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibiltiy on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 28 September 2019.

Related case:

CAS 2020/A/6695 Nicole Walker v. PANAM Sports
CAS 2020/A/6700 Equestrian Canada v. PANAM Sports
CAS 2020/A/7386 PANAM Sports v. Nicole Walker and Equestrian Canada
April 22, 2021

In August 2019 the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Canadian Athlete Nicole Walker after her A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Cocaine. Consequently the Panam Sports Disciplinairy Commission decided on 11 Decemer 2019 to disqualify the Athlete and her results related to Team Canada.

Hereafter the case was referred to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and in November 2019 a provisional suspension was ordered.

The Athlete denied the intentional use of Cocaine and explained with evidence that the positive test was the result of her ingestion of tea at the hotel where she stayed at the occasion of the Pan American Games. She was not aware at that time that the green tea she took was in fact coca tea. She provided statement's from the Hotel's manager which confirmed that coca tea was offered to its guests.

The parties in this case reached an agreement and requested the FEI Tribunal to issue a Decision incorporating the terms of this agreement. The FEI Tribunal settled the case based on the written submissions of the parties.

The parties agreed that the violation was not intentional and that the Athlete bears No Significant Fault or Negligence with a light degree of Fault or Negligence. The Athlete accepted the sanction and agreed to fulfil the Education Requirement within 1 year.

Therefore the FEI Tribunal decides on 4 June 2021 in accordance with the mutual consent of the Parties to impose a fine and a 1 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on 26 September 2019.

Stanozolol-N-glucuronide metabolites in human urine samples as suitable targets in terms of routine anti-doping analysis / Lorenz Göschl, Günter Gmeiner, Peter Gärtner, Georg Stadler, Valentin Enev, Mario Thevis, Wilhelm Schänzer, Sven Guddat, Guro Forsdahl. - (Drug Testing and Analysis (2021) 5 June)

• PMID: 34089570
• DOI: 10.1002/dta.3109

Abstract

The exogenous anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) stanozolol stays one of the most detected substances in professional sports. Its detection is a fundamental part of doping analysis, and the analysis of this steroid has been intensively investigated for a long time. This contribution to the detection of stanozolol doping describes for the first time the unambiguous proof for the existence of 17-epistanozolol-1'N-glucuronide and 17-epistanozolol-2'N-glucuronide in stanozolol-positive human urine samples due to the access to high-quality reference standards. Examination of excretion study samples shows large detection windows for the phase-II metabolites stanozolol-1'N-glucuronide and 17-epistanozolol-1'N-glucuronide up to 12 days and respectively up to almost 28 days. In addition, we present appropriate validation parameters for the analysis of these metabolites using a fully automatic method online solid-phase extraction (SPE) method already published before. Limits of identification (LOIs) as low as 100 pg/ml and other validation parameters like accuracy, precision, sensitivity, robustness, and linearity are given.

Liver injury associated with the use of selective androgen receptor modulators and post-cycle therapy : Two case reports and literature review / Tomas Koller, Petra Vrbova, Iveta Meciarova, Pavol Molcan, Michal Smitka, Svetlana Adamcova Selcanova, Lubomir Skladany. - (World Journal of Clinical Cases 9 (2021) 16 (6 June); p. 4062-4071)

• PMID: 34141767
• PMCID: PMC8180234
• DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i16.4062

Abstract

Background: Muscle growth promoters are being developed for the treatment of disease-induced loss of muscle mass. Ligandrol and ostarine are selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) with a non-steroidal structure and a presumably more favorable side effect profile. In recent years, these substances with or without "post-cycle therapy" (PCT) are often misused by amateur athletes aiming to promote muscle growth. At the same time, reports on their toxic effects on organ systems are emerging.

Case summary: We report two cases of liver injury in young men who used ligandrol and/or ostarine for a few weeks followed by the use of substances for PCT. Acute liver injury occurred in both cases after stopping SARMs while on PCT. The clinical picture was dominated by jaundice and fatigue. The biochemical pattern showed a mixed type of injury with normal alkaline phosphatase and high concentrations of bilirubin and serum bile acids. Histological evidence showed predominantly cholestatic injury with canalicular bile plugs, ductopenia, and mild hepatocellular damage without significant fibrosis. The patients recovered from the condition after 3 mo. The off target effects of SARMs were likely idiosyncratic, but our report highlights the yet unrecognized effects of other toxic substances used for PCT, supra-therapeutic doses, and the complete absence of monitoring for adverse effects.

Conclusion: Among muscle-building amateur athletes, SARMs (ligandrol or ostarine) and/or substances in PCT may cause cholestatic liver injury with prolonged recovery.

Performance- and image-enhancing drug use in the community: use prevalence, user demographics and the potential role of wastewater-based epidemiology / Katja M. Shimko, Timothy Piatkowski, Kevin V. Thomas, Naomi Speers, Lance Brooker, Ben J. Tscharke, Jake W. O'Brien. - (Journal of Hazardous Materials 419 (2021) 5 October; 126340)

• PMID: 34171672
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126340

Abstract

Performance- and image-enhancing drug (PIED) misuse is a significant public health issue. Currently, seizure data, surveys, anti-doping testing, and needle service provider data are used to estimate PIED use in populations. These methods are time consuming, single point-in-time measurements that often consist of small sample sizes and do not truly capture PIED prevalence. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been used globally to assess and monitor licit and illicit drug consumption within the general community. This method can objectively cover large populations as well as specific subpopulations (gyms, music festivals, prisons), and has potential as a complementary monitoring method for PIED use. Information obtained through WBE could be used to aid public health authorities in developing targeted prevention and education programmes. Research on PIED analysis in wastewater is limited and presents a significant gap in the literature. The focus is on anabolic steroids, and one steroid alternative currently growing in popularity; selective androgenic receptor modulators. This encompasses medical uses, addiction, prevalence, user typology, and associated public health implications. An overview of WBE is described including its benefits, limitations and potential as a monitoring method for PIED use. A summary of previous work in this field is presented. Finally, we summarise gaps in the literature, future perspectives, and recommendations for monitoring PIEDs in wastewater.

Suomen urheilun eettinen keskus SUEK ry vuosikertomus 2020  / Suomen urheilun eettinen keskus (SUEK). - Helsinki : SUEK, 2021

Attitudes Toward and Susceptibility to Doping in Spanish Elite and National-Standard Track and Field Athletes : An Examination of the Sport Drug Control Model / Elena García-Grimau, Ricardo De la Vega, Rafael De Arce, Arturo Casado. - (Frontiers in Psychology 12 (2021) 679001 (June); p. 1-9)

• PMID: 34168599
• PMCID: PMC8219072
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.679001

Abstract

The Sport Drug Control Model (SDCM) is likely to be the model which most explicitly represents the theoretical paradigm of the psychological study of the use of doping in sport. This model can be further developed through its analysis in different populations and cultures. The main aim of this study was to empirically test the SDCM while analyzing for the first time the intentions and attitudes toward doping in Spanish track and field athletes. A secondary aim was to assess the extent to which the variables in the model together predict attitude, susceptibility, and behavior toward the use of performance-enhancing substances. Participants were 281 Spanish elite and national-standard track and field athletes from whom 80.1% were 18-28 years old and 49.5% were females. Participants completed the SDCM questionnaire measuring morality, legitimacy, benefits appraisal, threat appraisal, self-efficacy to refrain from doping, reference groups' endorsement of doping methods/substances, use of legal supplements, availability and affordability of doping, attitudes toward doping, susceptibility to doping and, self-reported use of banned performance-enhancing substances or methods. Structural equation modeling supported a good fitness of the SDCM and confirmed that positive attitudes toward doping predicted high susceptibility to doping (β = 0.55, p < 0.001), which is in turn associated with the use of prohibited substances and methods (β = 0.12, p < 0.05). The factors that have most influence on attitudes toward doping are morality (β = 0.46, p < 0.001) and reference group opinion (β =0.62, p <0.001). Self-reported doping use was 9.6%. These findings confirm SDCM reproducibility and variability (as it accounts for several variables) in Spanish track and field competitive athletes. It is recommended to implement preventive programs which allow athletes to acquire a strong moral stance against doping and coaches to employ the tools required to instill and educate their athletes in rejecting these illegal practices that corrupt the integrity of competitive sport.

Medals, Diplomas and Medallist Pins Reallocation 

• Olympic Games London 2012
• Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018

/ International Olympic Committee Executive Board (EB). - Lausanne : International Olympic Committee (IOC), 2021

The IOC Executive Board (EB) took the decision to reallocate medals, diplomas and medallist pins from the Olympic Games London 2012 and the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, based on decisions made by the IOC Disciplinary Commission and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Following the disqualification of certain athletes, the results have been adjusted accordingly by the International Federations involved.

In the men’s 69kg weightlifting event at London 2012, the third-placed and sixth-placed athletes have been disqualified, so the bronze medal is reallocated to Myong Hyok Kim of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the subsequent ranking until eighth place has been adjusted.

In the women’s 69kg weightlifting event at London 2012, the second-placed, third-placed and fourth-placed athletes have been disqualified. 

As the reallocation of medals can be undertaken only if the athletes concerned are not currently under suspension for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) and/or no anti-doping proceedings are currently initiated against them, the IOC EB decided not to reallocate the silver medal to Anna Nurmukhambetova of Kazakhstan at the present time, as she is currently suspended for an ADRV until 17 September 2023.

The bronze medal is reallocated to Ubaldina Valoyes Cuesta of Colombia, and the subsequent ranking until eighth place has been adjusted.

Other diplomas and medallist pins from London 2012 and PyeongChang 2018 have also been reallocated. 

For reference, the reallocation of medals is not automatic and is decided by the IOC on a case-by-case basis. If the IOC decides to reallocate the medals, this takes place only after all the remedies of the sanctioned athletes or teams have been exhausted and once all procedures are closed.

Where such samples are available, at least one sample from any athlete bumped up should be reanalysed and confirmed negative. If no sample is available to be re-analysed, the athlete is given the benefit of the doubt.

Since 2018, athletes can choose from six options for receiving their reallocated medals in a way that recognises their achievements. This is in accordance with the Olympic Medal Reallocation Principles that were proposed by the IOC Athletes’ Commission and subsequently approved by the IOC EB.

An appeal with the TJD-AD was filed after reports in the media that a State Football Federation had conducted fraudulent Doping Control Proceedings during a football championship, without supervision of the Brazilian Doping Control Authority (ABCD), and repeatedly had charged fees to football clubs for non existing doping controls proceedings. 

The ABCD established that it was not involved because it had no sample collections scheduled at all for this championschip in question in that season. Accordingly the ABCD finds that these alleged fraudulent matters were no violations of the Brazilian Anti-Doping Code (CBA), yet violations of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (CBJD). 

The TJD-AD agrees that the appeal is inadmissible because it has no competence under CBA. However because there is evidence of charging fees to football clubs for no existing doping control proceedings the TJD-AD deems on 9 June 2021 that this matter must be transferred and settled by the State Court of Sport Justice for Football.

Urinary Elimination of Ecdysterone and Its Metabolites Following a Single-Dose Administration in Humans / Gabriella Ambrosio, Tasha Yuliandra, Bernhard Wuest, Monica Mazzarino, Xavier de la Torre, Francesco Botrè, Patrick Diel, Eduard Isenmann, Maria Kristina Parr. - (Metabolites 11 (2021) 6 (9 June); p. 1-15)

• PMID: 34207569
• PMCID: PMC8227119
• DOI: 10.3390/metabo11060366

Abstract

Ecdysterone is a phytosteroid widely discussed for its various pharmacological, growth-promoting, and anabolic effects, mediated by the activation of estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). Performance-enhancement in sports was demonstrated recently, and ecdysterone was consequently included in the Monitoring Program, to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport. Only few studies on the pharmacokinetics of ecdysterone in humans have been reported so far. In this study, post-administration urine samples in twelve volunteers (single dose of 50 mg of ecdysterone) were analyzed using dilute-and-inject liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Identification and quantitation of ecdysterone and of two metabolites, 14-deoxy-ecdysterone and 14-deoxy-poststerone, was achieved. Ecdysterone was the most abundant analyte present in post-administration urine samples, detected for more than 2 days, with a maximum concentration (Cmax) in the 2.8-8.5 h urine (Cmax = 4.4-30.0 µg/mL). The metabolites 14-deoxy-ecdysterone and 14-deoxy-poststerone were detected later, reaching the maximum concentrations at 8.5-39.5 h (Cmax = 0.1-6.0 µg/mL) and 23.3-41.3 h (Cmax = 0.1-1.5 µg/mL), respectively. Sex-specific differences were not observed. Cumulative urinary excretion yielded average values of 18%, 2.3%, and 1.5% for ecdysterone, 14-deoxy-ecdysterone, and 14-deoxy-poststerone, respectively. Ecdysterone and 14-deoxy-ecdysterone were excreted following first-order kinetics with half-lives calculated with three hours, while pharmacokinetics of 14-deoxy-poststerone needs further evaluation.