In May 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Joyce Chepkemoi Tele after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone Acetonide. Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete filed a statement in her defence.

The Athlete explained that she underwent medical treatment in a hospital in Kenya in April 2022 for her diagnosed pneumonia and an allergic reaction. She demonstrated with documents that she had received various medications including a Trinocort injection containing Triamcinolone Acetonide.

Hereafter in July 2022 the Athlete's application for a retroactive TUE was rejected by the TUE Committee of the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). Furthermore ADAK's investigation confirmed her statements regarding the medical treatment she underwent in the hospital.

The AIU concludes that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and deems that there are grounds for a reduced sanction. Thereupon the Athlete admitted the violation and signed an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

Therefore the AIU decides on 13 December 2023 to impose an 18 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. 27 June 2022.

In September 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Rebecca Jepchirchir Korir after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Methylprednisolone.

Following notification the Athlete explained that she had used painkillers for her injury that might have caused the positive test. Although the violation was considered not intentional the AIU finds that she failed to explain how the prohibited substance had entered her system.

Thereupon a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete failed to respond to the AIU communications. Because she did not respond within the set deadline the AIU determines in November 2023 that the Athlete was deemed to have waived her right for a hearing and accepted the consequences.

Therefore the AIU decides on 13 December 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 2 November 2023.

Related case:

ADAK 2019 ADAK vs James Mwangi Wangari
September 23, 2020

23 September 2020 the Kenyan Sports Disputes Tribunal decided to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete James Mwangi Wangari after his sample tested posive for the prohibted substance Testosterone.

Hereafter in December 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported a new anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after he tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone).

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

The Athlete accepted the test result and denied the intentional use of the substance. He alleged that a contaminated supplement had caused the positive test result and that he acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence.

He asserted that without success he made diligent attempts to establish the source of the prohibited substance. Because of the costs he was also unable to request analysis of his B sample.

World Athletics contended that the Athlete had committed a second anti-doping rule violation and failed to demonstrate with corroborating evidence that he acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence. Because of the high concentration established in the sample his violation is deemed to be intentional.

The Sole Arbitrator Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed a second anti-doping rule violation. The Panel deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional.

The Sole Arbitrator considers that there is no corroborating evidence about the contamination theorie. Moreover the Sole Arbitrator agrees that the high concentration found in the Athlete's sample can only be consistent with the administration of a Nandrolone injection.

Therefore the Disciplinary Tribunal decides on 7 December 2023 to impose an 8 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 21 December 2022.

The Moroccan Athlete Fouad Idbafdil participated in marathons in Marocco in May 2022, the United Arab Emirates in November 2022 and Saudi Arabia in February 2023 where he provided his samples.

Hereafter in March 2023 the Moroccan Anti-Doping Agency (AMAD) and in April 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reported multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete after his samples tested positive for the prohibited substances Erythropoietin (EPO) and Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (CERA).

Following notification by AMAD in March 2023 a provisional suspension was ordered. Initially the Athlete denied the intentional use of the substances and requested the AIU for a hearing. He stated that he previously had received medical treatments. However the AIU established that these treatments could not explain the positive test results.

Ultimately in December 2023 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

The AIU finds that the Athlete's 3 anti-doping rule violations shall be considered together as one single first violation. Furthermore the AIU deems that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case because the Athlete had used 2 prohibited substances for months.

Therefore the AIU decides on 14 December 2023 to impose a 6 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 14 March 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.

In September 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Italian Athlete Ahmed Abdelwahed after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium.

Following notification 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 denied the intentional use of the substance, he argued that the concentration in his sample was very low, and he assumed that his supplements through biotransformation had caused the positive test. However analysis in a laboratory of his supplements and hair did not reveal the presence of Meldonium.

The AIU contended that the presence of a prohibited substance properly had been established in the Athlete's sample and that the B sample had confirmed the A sample. There is no evidence of supplement contamination and the AIU rejected the Athlete's alleged biotransformation theory.

The Panel assessed and addressed the evidence of the parties and their expert witnesses and determines that:

• The presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's samples and accordingly he committed an anti-doping rule violation.
• The Athlete failed to produce convincing evidence about the biotransformation theory.
• The Athlete failed to demonstrate that he acted with No Fault or Negligence.

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 7 September 2023.

In October 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Fouad Idbafdil after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Erythropoietin (EPO).

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

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 6 December 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 30 October 2023.

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.

In November 2023 Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Evaan Reihana after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cocaine.

Following notification the Athlete admitted the violation, denied the intentional use of the substance and accepted the sanction proposed by DFSNZ. DFSNZ accepted that the violation was not intentional and that the use of Cocaine occurred out-of-competition.

The Athlete acknowledged that he had used the substance out-of-competition the day before the competition to cope with a family crisis.

The Tribunal assessed the joint memorandum of counsel and agrees that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and occurred out-of-competition in a context unrelated to sport performance. The Tribunal further determines that there is no need to order a Provisional Suspension and deems that there are no grounds to redact the name of the recreational Athlete from this decision.

Therefore the Tribunal decides on 20 December 2023 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the decision.

Related case:

SAIDS 2023-09 SAIDS vs Tebogo Tsotetsi
August 15, 2023

On 15 August 2023 the Anti-Doping Tribunal Hearing Panel decided to impose a 20 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete Tebogo Tsotetsi after she tested positive for the prohibited substance Salbutamol.

In First Instance the Panel accepted that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and deemed that she had acted negligently with grounds for a reduced sanction.

Hereafter in September 2023 the Athlete appealed the Decision of the Hearing Panel. The Athlete requested the Appeal Board to set aside the Appealed Decision and to impose a further reduced sanction.

The Athlete admitted the violation and explained that she was unaware that the cough syrup she had used for her illness contained Salbutamol. She asserted the she acted not intentional due to ignorance as a recreational athlete who had never received anti-doping education.

Although the violation was not intentional SAIDS contended that the Athlete acted negligently with her self-medication that clearly contained a prohibited substance. Further SAIDS rejected that she is a recreational athlete because of her participation in large marathons finishing in the top percentiles.

Following assessment of the Athlete's conduct with her self-medication the Appeal Board determines that the Athlete had acted with a degree of negligence and that there were no grounds to reduce the imposed sanction.

Therefore the Appeal Board decides on 12 December 2023 to dismiss the Athlete's appeal and to uphold the Appealed Decision and the sanction of 20 months.