In April 2023 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported and anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete John Kariuki Gikonyo after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substanceTrimetazidine.

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

ADAK deems that the Athlete's violation was intentional and determines that he shall receive a 1 year reduction for his timely admission of the anti-doping rule violation.

Therefore ADAK decides on 23 November 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 8 May 2023.

In September 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Esther Birundu Borura after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone).

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. She stated that she had purchased and injected the substance.

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

Therefore the AIU decides on 23 November 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 6 September 2023.

World Anti-Doping Agency 2022 annual report / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

CONTENTS

• Message from the President and Director General
• Our Team
• The Year in Numbers
• Lead
• Grow Impact
• Be Athlete Centered
• Collaborate and Unite
• Be Visible
• World Anti-Doping Program
• 2022 Financial Overview
• 2022 Financial Statements

Testing Role Descriptor / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

• GLDF | Global Learning and Development Framework - Role Descriptor - Testing

The role descriptor will support the anti-doping industry by clarifying the main characteristics of key anti-doping roles. It can be used to support the development of a job description when an Anti-Doping Organization (ADO) aims to recruit a Testing practitioner. ADOs should tailor this role descriptor to their specific needs and realities.

Testing Professional Standard / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

• Version 1.0
• GLDF | Global Learning and Development Framework - Testing

The professional standard aims to support the anti-doping industry by providing a benchmark of competence for a specific role. Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) can use the professional standard to support the evaluation of competence and importantly to support practitioner development by identifying professional development needs.

Related case:

ADAK 2021 ADAK vs Samuel Lomoi
January 6, 2023

On 6 January 2023 the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal ruled that the Athlete Samuel Lomoi had committed an anti-doping rule violation after he tested positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone acetonide.

Accordingly the Panel decided in first instance to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 12 September 2021.

Hereafter in June 2023 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) appealed the decision of the Tribunal with the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel. ADAK requested the Appeal Panel to modify the Appealed Decision regarding the commencement of the Athlete's period of ineligibility.

Following investigations ADAK had recently established that the Athlete during the provisional suspension and during the current sanction had participated in 3 competitions. ADAK contended that pending the findings of their investigations into the Athlete's conduct it had been unable to timely file and appeal within the set deadline of 21 days.

ADAK acknowledged that the appeal was filed 123 days after the Tribunal had rendered its decision. ADAK denied that the delay in filing the appeal was not due to carelessness, yet merely caused by the time to conduct a proper investigation into the Athlete.

The Athlete argued that ADAK under the Rules had failed to file an appeal timely within the set time period and accordingly its appeal must be deemed inadmissible.

The Appeal Panel considered ADAK's contentions and concludes that the appeal was filed too late without sufficient grounds for admitting an appeal out of time. By contrast the  Appeal Panel determines that when new evidence has surfaced a party is allowed to file an application for review.

Nevertheless the Appeal Panel decides on 28 November 2023 that ADAK's appeal is dismissed because it was filed too late.

In September 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Rwandan Athlete John Hakizimana after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone acetonide.

Following notification the Athlete denied the intentional use of the substance whereas he assumed that his supplements had caused the positive test. Ultimately he 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 prohibited substance was not listed on the labels of the Athlete's supplements. Moreover he failed to provide additional information to the AIU, nor were these supplements analysed for the presence of Triamcinolone acetonide.

Further the AIU considers that there was no evidence that the violation was 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 28 November 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 27 October 2023.

On 5 April 2023 the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of India (ADDPI) decided to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the football player Viknesh after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Terbutaline.

Hereafter the Athlete appealed the ADDPI decision with the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel of India (ADAPI). He requested the Appeal Panel to set aside the Appealed Decision and to impose a reduced sanction.

The Athlete accepted the test result and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that he had used a prescribed cough syrup while he was unaware that it contained Terbutaline.

The Appeal Panel confirms that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation and could not demonstrate how the substance had entered his system. He failed to apply for a TUE, nor mentioned his medication on the Doping Control Form.

The Appeal Panel deems that he acted negligently and could not establish with evidence that the medication he had used contained Terbutaline. Considering a provisional suspension had not been accepted by the Athlete the Panel modifies the starting date of the sanction.

Therefore the ADAPI Panel decides on 2 December 2023 to uphold the Appealed Decision and to set the starting date of the sanction on the date of the decision, i.e. on 5 April 2023.

In June 2023 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the wrestler Pooja Dhanda. INADA contended the Athlete had 3 Whereabouts Failures within a 12 month period:

• a Filing Failure for July-September 2022;
• a Filing Failure October-December 2022; and 
• a Filing Failure / Missed Test on 21 December 2022.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of India (ADDPI).

The Athlete denied the charges and requested for a reduced sanction. She asserted that she timely had submitted her Whereabouts for Q4-2022. 

She acknowledged the Missed Test on 21 December 2022. Nevertheless she was available for sample collection and alternatively on the same day she provided a sample.

The Athlete claimed that there had been substantial delays in the notification of her Whereabouts Failures. Further she alleged that she was hampered by technical problems when she attempted to enter her Whereabouts in ADAMS.

The Panel finds that 3 Whereabouts Failures had been established and accordingly that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation. The Panel deems that she acted with a light degree of fault.

Therefore the ADDPI decided on 5 December 2023 to impose a 1 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the dat of the Provisional suspension, i.e. on 15 June 2023.

In November 2022 the South American Sports Organization (ODESUR) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Bolivian Athlete Basco Mamani after his sample, provided during 2022 South America Games, tested positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol.

As a result on 30 March 2023 ODESUR ruled that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation. Hereafter the case was referred to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to consider consequences to be imposed on the Athlete.

Following notification in July 2023 a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that in October 2022 he suffered from a cold and consulted a doctor when his condition deteriorated.

Thereupon he receiveid from the pharmacy the wrong medication Ambroterol instead of the prescribed Ambroxol. He claimed that when he contacted the pharmacy and his doctor he was told that both medications had the same composition and were valid, although both people lacked doping knowledge.

The Athlete acknowledged that he had not checked his medication before using, nor mentioned his medication to his sport doctors at the Games when he received further medical treatment. Because he was so sick at the Games he also failed to mention properly all his medication on the Doping Control Form.

The AIU contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Furthermore the AIU deemed that the Athlete was not credible because of several inconsistencies in his conduct, his evidence and his testimonies.

In view of the evidence the Panel concludes that the Athlete had demonstrated how the prohibited substance had entered his system. Yet, he failed to establish that the violation was not intentional.

The Panel determines that without any precautions the Athlete clearly had acted recklessly with his medication. He failed to check the ingredients of the mediation with anyone, not even with his sports doctor, neither did he even look at the label of the medication.

Therefore the Panel decides on 5 December 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 19 July 2023.