In April 2023 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Priya after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Enobosarm (Ostarine), GW1516 and LGD-4033 (Ligandrol).

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 acknowledged that she had used supplements and asserted that she was unaware that it contained prohibited substances. By contrast INADA contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate the source of the prohibited substances, nor that the violation was not intentional.

The Panel finds that the presence of prohibited substances had been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly the she committed an anti-doping rule violation. The Panel deems that the Athlete failed to prove the source of the prohibited substances, neither that the violation was not intentional.

Therefore the Panel decides on 25 September 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 April 2023.

In December 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the bodybuilder Rashid Issa for his Evasion, Refusal or failure to submit to sample collection at a bodybuilding championship in October 2022.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete filed a statement in his defence. The Athlete did not attend the hearing and the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal settled the case based on the written submissions of the Parties.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied that he intentionally had evaded doping control. He asserted that he indeed had cooperated with the sample collection.

The Athlete tesitified that at the Doping Control Station he all night had attempted to produce a sample although he had ingested a dozen bottles of water. Feeling unwell the Doping Control Officers (DCO) declined his request for a meal.

Hungry and tired after 24 hours without food he ultimately received permission to go to his apartment accompanied by a DCO. In a bad condition he hurried to his apartment to get something to eat and thereupon discovered that he had lost contact with the DCO.

The Panel considered the evidence in this case and accepts that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and that there are grounds for a reduced sanction.

Therefore the Panel decides on 21 September 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 4 January 2023.

In May 2023 World Rugby reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Paraguayan ruby player Estefano Aranda Caceres after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis.

Following notification the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by World Rugby. The Athlete acknowledged the unintentional use of the substance whereas Word Rugby deemed that the violation was due to a Substance of Abuse.

Therefore World Rugby decides on 20 September 2023 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 8 May 2023.

In May 2023 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Hannah Wairimu Mwangi after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone (Nandrolone).

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived her right for a hearing and accepted in this settlement the sanction proposed by ADAK. The Athlete received a 1 year reduction for her timely admission of the anti-doping rule violation.

Therefore on 19 September 2023 ADAK decides to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on 21 June 2023.

Related case:

UKAD 2020 RFU vs Arran Lee Perry
September 10, 2020

On 10 September 2020 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) decided to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the rugby player Arran Lee Perry after he tested positive for the prohibited substance Oxandrolone.

Hereafter in February 2023 the RFU reported that the Athlete had breached his period of ineligibiltiy. Its investigation had established that he had participated in a training session in November 2022.

Following notification the Athlete acknowledged that he only participated into this training with friends and family while it was not organised by his club.

In this matter the RFU considers the Athlete's conduct and his degree of fault. The RFU concludes that there are sufficient grounds for the imposition of a reduced addition sanction on the Athlete.

Therefore the RFU decides on 10 September 2020 to impose an additional 6 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date the current sanction shall end, i.e. on 20 December 2023.

Related cases:

• United States vs Eric Lira - Complaint
  December 29, 2021
• World Athletics 2021 WA vs Blessing Okagbare (1)
  February 14, 2022
• World Athletics 2021 WA vs Blessing Okagbare (2)
  June 23, 2022
  
  

Mr Eric Lira alleged to be a kinesiologist and naturopathic doctor in the United States, operating principally in and around El Paso, Texas. He obtained prohibited substances, and other, prescription drugs from sources in Central and South America, before bringing those drugs into the United States and distributing them to, among other, two athletes referred to in the incriminating evidence as Athlete-1 and Athlete-2.

In July 2022 criminal federal charges were filed against Mr Lira under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act for obtaining various performance enhancing drugs and distributed those drugs to certain athletes. On 8 May 2023 Mr. Lira pleaded guilty to these federal charges.

Ms Blessing Okagbare (identified as Athlete-1) is a Nigerian Athlete who tested positive in July 2021 for the prohibited substances Recombinant Erythropoietin (rhEPO) and Human Growth Hormone (hGH).

In the anti-doping case against the Ms Okagbare the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) evidence regarding the case in the United States against Mr Lira, involved in the distribution of prohibited substances to two athletes.

The FBI had also scanned Ms Okagbare's mobile telephone in August 2021 and incriminating text and voice messages send to Mr Lira showed clearly the Athlete's purchase of hGH and rhEPO. Further these messages revealed her evasion and tampering of sample collection in June 2021 resulting in a confirmed Missed Test.

Finally in two Decisions - rendered on 14 February 2021 and on 23 June 2022 - a total 11 year period of ineligibility was imposed on the Athlete for presence, use and tampering.

The Nigerian Athlete Divine Oduduru in this case was identified by the FBI in their investigations as Athlete-2. His name and involvement in doping was revealed in the evidence against Mr Lira and his distribution of prohibited substances to these two Nigerian athletes.

In July 2021, while Divine Oduduru was abroad in Europe for training, an associate (Individual-1) of both Nigerian athletes was requested by Oduduru to gather some belongings in his residence in Florida and to transfer those belongings to a near-by storge facility.

Inside the Athlete's residence in Jacksonville and in his storage facility Individual-1 found and photographed packages and vials containing various performance enhancing drugs. Thereupon Individual-1 provided those photographs as evidence to USADA and the FBI.

In view of the evidence against the Mr Divine Oduduru the AIU deemed that he was using or attempting to use multiple prohibed substances. These substances were provided to the Athlete by Eric Lira and also on occasion by Ms Okagbare, whereas Ms Okagbare was at times acting as a go-between for the Athlete with Eric Lira.

Consequently in February 2023 the AIU reported anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete Oduduru for possession and use of the prohibited substances Erythropoietin (EPO), Human Growth hormone (hGH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1).

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

The Athlete completely denied that multiple prohibited substances had been found in his residence. He also denied any contact with Mr Lira, neither that Ms Okabare was procuring prohibited substances on his behalf from Mr. Lira.

Instead the Athlete alleged that he had been sabotaged by Individual-1, his coach and his team. Furthermore the Athlete denied having used any prohibited substance while he had been tested before without issues.

In this case the Panel addressed the following issues:

• 1. Did the Athlete commit an ADRV under Rule 2.6 ADR (Possession of a Prohibited Substance or a Prohibited Method)?
• 2. Did the Athlete commit an ADRV under Rule 2.2 ADR (Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited substance or a Prohibited Method)?
• 3. What are the Consequences of those ADRV?
• 4. Are there Aggravating Circumstances that justify increase of the period of Ineligibility?

Following assessment the Panel ultimately determines that:

• The Athlete committed the anti-doping rule violations for possession and attemped use.
• The imposed sanction is a period of ineligibility of 4 years including a period of disqualification.
• It is fair and proportionate to increase the Athlete's sanction for additional 2 years.
• The Athlete is ordered to pay a contribution to World Athletics towards the legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with these proceedings.

Therefore the Panel decides on 18 September 2023 that:

1.) The Disciplinary Tribunal has jurisdiction to decide on the subject matters of this dispute.

2.) The Athlete has committed ADRVs under Rules 2.6 and 2.2 ADR and these shall be considered together as one single first violation.

3.) A period of Ineligibility of six (6) years is imposed upon the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 9 February 2023.

4.) The Athlete’s results from 12 July 2021 until 9 February 2023, shall be disqualified with all resulting consequences.

Rapport d'Activites 2022 / Agence Nationale Antidopage Tunisie (ANAD). - Tunis : ANAD, 2023

In March 2023 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Eliud Kibet Too after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone (Nandrolone).

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. In this case the Athlete failed to respond to ADAK's communications, nor cooperated with the proceedings.

Further the Athlete failed to attend the hearings of the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal. Hence the Tribunal rendered a decision based on the written submissions of the Parties.

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

The Panel determines that Athlete didn't provide any explanation in his defence. Moreover he failed to respond at all and evaded cooperation with the proceedings.

Ultimately the Panel concludes that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. He also did not explain how the substances had entered his system.

Therefore the Tribunal decides on 14 September 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of this decision.

In May 2023 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the bodybuilder Rohan Vijay Gurav after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Stanozolol.

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

The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance had been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation. The Panel notes that the Athlete at the hearing responded rudely and rowdy and did not regret at all his use of Stanozolol.

Therefore the Panel decides on 12 September 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. 12 May 2023.

In April 2023 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the bodybuilder Nirmal Kumar Shetter after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Canrenone, Drostanolone, Mephentermine, Phentermine and Stanozolol.

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

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

Therefore the Panel decides on 12 September 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 12 April 2023.