In October 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Paul Kipchuma Lonyangata after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Furosemide.

After notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 11 February 2022 to impose a 19 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the admission, i.e. on 26 October 2021.

In May 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics has reported an an anti-doping rule violation against the Ethiopian Athlete Kuftu Tahir Dadiso after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Morphine.

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

The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substance and explained with corroborating evidence that the Morphine entered her system through the accidental ingestion of Sandoz Morphine medication prescribed to her husband the night before the competition.

The AIU accepts that the violation was not intentional and that the Athlete demonstrated how the substance entered her system. Considering the circumstances the AIU finds that the Athlete acted with a normal degree of Fault.

Therefore the AIU decides on 10 November 2021 to impose an 18 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 20 May 2021.

Related case:

IOC 2016 IOC vs Kirill Ikonnikov
October 19, 2016

Mr. Kirill Ikonnikov is a Russian Athlete competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Previously the Athlete was sanctioned for 2 years until November 2014 for his first anti-doping rule violation and sanctioned for another 8 years from April 2016 until April 2024 for his second anti-doping rule violation.

In 2016, Professor Richard McLaren issued two reports about systemic doping in Russia. These reports identified a significant number of Russian athletes who were involved in, or benefitted from, the doping schemes and practices that he uncovered.

Hereafter in January 2019 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recovered the internal database of the Moscow Laboratory (LIMS). Following investigation of allegations of organized doping practices, and in particular of the LIMS, WADA provided international federations with investigation reports on the athletes implicated in these organized doping practices.

As a result in December 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics reported new multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete committed in 2012 and in 2014 for the use of the prohibited substances Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, Desoxymethyltestosterone, Methasterone and Oxandrolone.

After notification the Athlete failed to respond to the AIU communications. Without his response the AIU deems that he has waived his right to a hearing, to have accepted the asserted anti-doping rule violations and the sanction rendered by the AIU.

The AIU considers that the Athlete had already served a 2 year period of ineligibility for his first anti-doping rule violation and currently is serving an 8 year period of ineligibility for his second anti-doping rule violation including disqualification of his results.

Under the Rules the AIU concludes that the 2012 violations shall be considered as a single first violation together with the first committed anti-doping rule violations. Also the 2014 violations shall be considered a second violation together with the committed second anti-doping rule violations.

The AIU establishes that there are aggravating circumstances in this case and that an additional period of ineligibility of 2 years can be imposed on the Athlete for the 2012 anti-doping rule violations.

The AIU holds that the Athlete had already received the maximum sanction of 8 years for his second anti-doping rule violation. It follows that no additional period of ineligibility can be imposed for the 2014 anti-doping rule violations.

Therefore the AIU decides on 9 June 2022 to impose a additional 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete to run consecutively to the 8 year period of ineligibility that the Athlete is currently serving for his second anti-doping rule violation since 4 April 2016.

In addition to the Athlete's results that already had been disqualified the AIU deems that now all the Athlete's results from 4 July 2012 shall be disqualified until the date of this decision.

In July 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on behalf of World Athletics reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Iraqi Athlete Danah Hussein after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Stanozolol and Clenbuterol.

The Athlete could not explain the test result and stated that her Coach Karokh Salih Mohammed was responsible for her nutrition, supplements, medication and vitamins.

The Coach acknowledged that he had provided these products to the Athlete and alleged that he was unaware they contained prohibited substances.

After further investigations the Coach admitted in June 2022 that he had provided Stanozolol and Clenbuterol pills to the Athlete in June 2021.

Consequently in November 2022 the AIU reported multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Coach for Possession, Trafficking, Administration and Complicitiy. Following notification the Coach admitted the violations, waived his right for a hearing and accepted a provisional suspension.

Finally in December 2022 the Coach signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 20 February 2023 to impose a lifetime period of ineligibility on the Coach, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e on 16 November 2021.

In November 2021 the Commission of the Italian Ministry of Health reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Joel Maina Mwangi after he tested positive for the prohibited substances 9-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone Nandrolone.

The Athlete admitted the violation and on 25 January 2022 he accepted a 2 year period of ineligibility rendered by the Procura Nazionale Antidoping (PNA), the Italian National Anti-Doping Prosecutor Office.

Hereafter in January 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics was notified about the Italian Decision. After review the AIU deemed that it could not recognise this Italian Decision as an anti-doping rule violation under the WADA Code because the Commission of the Italian Ministry of Health was not an Code Signatory.

Nevertheless the AIU deemed that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation because the Athlete was subjected to the applicable Rules, he had admitted the violation and the analysis of his sample was conducted in the WADA accredited Roma Laboratory in accordance with the ISTI.

After notification in June 2022 the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The Athlete explained with medical evidence that he suffered from an injury and that the doctor in the hospital had injected him Deca-Durabolin as treatment whereas he was unaware that this medication contained prohibited substances.

The AIU finds that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional and considers that the Athlete had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form in order to receive a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore World Athletics decides on 29 June 2022 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. 23 June 2022.

In April 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for World Athletics has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Moroccan Athlete Halima Hachlaf after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Methylprednisolone.

Previously in January 2014 a sanction of 4 years was imposed on the Athlete due to an anti-doping rule violation.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete filed a statement in her defence. The Athlete submitted with medical evidence that in January 2021 she had received medcial treatment and that Depo-medrol was adminstered through intramuscular injection.

Between April and September 2021 the AIU conducted an investigation into the Athlete's explanation and supporting information. Thereupon the Athlete failed to respond to the AIU communications.

Because the Athlete failed to respond within the deadline under the Rules follows that the Athlete is deemed to have admitted the violation, to have waived her right for a hearing and to have accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU.

The AIU considers the Athlete's degree of fault in this case and that this is her second anti-doping rule violation. Therefore the AIU decides on 29 November 2021 to impose a 6 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 9 April 2021.

In February 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics reported anti-doping rule violations against the Ethiopian Athlete Getaye Fisseha Gelaw after his samples - provided in September and October 2021 - tested positive for the prohibited substance Recombinant Erythropoietin (rhEPO). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered.

In his submissions the Athlete accepted the test results and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that due to his knee injury in September 2021 he had used painkillers as advised and injected by his colleagues. He asserted that he was unaware what kind of substance was injected and could not provide further details about the purchase of the substance and about his colleagues.

The AIU concludes that the Athlete had committed multiple anti-doping rule violations while he had admitted to being injected on three occasion and that aggravating circumstances had been established.

Hereafter the Athlete failed to respond to the communications of the AIU. Because the Athlete failed to respond to the charge within the set deadline the AIU deems that the Athlete has admitted the anti-doping rule violations, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the consequences thereupon.

Therefore the AIU decides on 12 May 2022 to impose a 6 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. 4 February 2022.

Related case:

World Athletics 2021 WA vs Fernanda Martins (1)
August 4, 2021

On 4 August 2021 the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal decided to impose a 2 month period of ineligibility on the Brazilian Athlete Fernanda Martins after she tested positive for the prohibited substance Enobosarm (Ostarine).

The Sole Arbitrator concluded that the violation was not intentional due to a contaminated supplement and that there was no evidence that the Athlete acted reckless. The Arbitrator deemed that the Athlete's Fault is at the lowest end of the permissible range and that she cannot be faulted simply for using a compounding pharmacy.

Hereafter in September 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for World Athletics appealed this Decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Yet the AIU, the Athlete and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently entered into a Case Resolution Agreement. The Athlete acknowleged that she committed an anti-doping rule violation and accepted the  sanction proposed by the AIU.

Therefore World Athletics decides on 10 February 2022 to impose a sanction of 9 months and 16 days on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 1 August 2021.

Related case:

World Athletics 2021 WA vs Fernanda Martins (2)
February 10, 2022

In July 2021 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for World Athletics (WA) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Brazilian Athlete Fernanda Martins after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Enobosarm.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal.

In this case the Parties accepted that the anti-doping rule violation was the result of the use of a contaminated supplement made at the compounding pharmacy in Brazil.

WA contended that the Athlete acted with direct intent, or recklessness because of the known escalating risks regarding contamination of supplements from compound pharmacies. Due to the Athlete's Significant Fault or Negligence WA requested for the imposition of a 4 year sanction.

The Athlete argued that she only had used prescribed supplements from one of the top doctors in the country whereas these supplements only could be obtained in Brazil from compounding pharmacies. She asserted that she had not received any warning of the risks of using compounding pharmacies nor had she received significant anti-doping training. Further she had conducted Internet research concerning the reputation of the compounding pharmacy and her doctor had a personal conversation with the pharmacy about the manufacture of products and product purity.

The Sole Arbitrator concludes that the violation was not intentional and that there was no evidence that the Athlete acted reckless. The Arbitrator deems that the Athlete's Fault is at the lowest end of the permissible range and that she cannot be faulted simply for using a compounding pharmacy.

Therefore the Disciplinary Tribunal decides on 4 August 2021 to impose a 2 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 May 2021.

As the Athlete already has served the 2 month sanction during the provisional suspension she is free to compete again.

Related case:

World Athletics 2020 WA vs Dzmitry Nabokau
September 1, 2020

On 1 September 2020 the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal decided to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Belarussian Athlete Dzmitry Nabokau after he tested positive for the prohibited substance Furosemide in a concentration of 17ng/mL. Here allegedly contaminants in food had caused the Athlete's postive test result.

On 31 May 2021 the WADA Executive Committee approved WADA Technical Letter TL24: reporting levels for certain diuretics that are known contaminants of pharmaceutical products which came into force on 1 June 2021.

TL24 stipulates new Minimum Reporting Levels for 6 diuretics set at 20 ng/mL in order to risk of sanctioning Athletes who test positive due to the use of contaminated medications.

In light of the introduction of TL24 the Athlete Dzmitry Nabokau made an application to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for an urgent review of his case. The Athlete had already served nearly 20 months of his 24 month period of ineligibility.

The AIU considers that the effect of TL24 is to remove Furosemide from the Prohibited List as far as reported concentrations of 20 ng/mL or less are concerned.

Therefore the AIU decides on 10 June 2021 out of fairness to the Athlete to reduce the remaining period of his ineligibility such that he is eligible to return to competition with immediate effect.