In January 2022 the South African Institute for Drugfree Sport (SAIDS) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the triathlon Athlete Annah Watkinson after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Mestanolone in a low concentration.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the SAIDS Anti-Doping Tribunal.

SAIDS contended that that Athlete failed to prove with corroborating evidence that the violation was not intentional and how the subtance had entered her system.

The Athlete attempted to identify the source of the prohibited substance with testst, experts and legal representative. Also she attempted to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional and that she had not acted recklessly.

The Athlete presented three possible sources of the prohibited substance:

• Contamination or cross contamination of a peanut butter smoothie;
• The transfer of the prohibited substance to her by her boyfriend through kissing;
• The use of a steroid cream by someone who shared the swimming pool with her.

Regarding the possible sources the Panel assessed and adressed in detail the evidence raised by the Athlete. However, the Panel concludes that the hypothesis is not probable and the theories unlikely.

Furthermore the Panel did not accept that as an experienced athlete in the Doping Process she only had mentioned on the Doping Control Form the supplements she had use on the day of the test and not the preceeding 7 days.

Despite the Athlete tried to demonstrate with evidence that she not had been dishonest or reckless the Panel concludes that she failed to establish that the violation was not intentional.

Therefore the Panel decides on 21 November 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 11 January 2022.

In September 2023 United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) charged the triathlon Athlete Louis Walker for committing an anti-doping rule violation after Clenbuterol had been found in his possesion in February 2023 and this was reported to his coach and UKAD.

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

The Athlete admitted the possession and use of Clenoxin tablets (Clenbuterol). He statet that he had used it at a time of difficult personal circumstances to assist him for losing weight and for body image.

UKAD 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 UKAD decides on 5 January 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 27 September 2023.

In September 2023 the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the softball player Mitchell McKay after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Pseudoephedrine in a concentration above the WADA threshold.

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

The Athlete provided an explanation for the positive test and signed an Agreement on Consequences in January 2024. CCES accepted that the violation was not intentional and considered that he acted with a degree of fault.

Therefore CCES decides on 12 February 2024 to impose an 18 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 7 September 2023.

In December 2021 the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Argentine cyclist Juan Manuel Godoy after he tested positive for the prohibited substance Stanozolol.

Consequently the PASO Disciplinary Commission (PASO DC) decided on 23 February 2022 that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation and to disqualify his results obtained at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games.

Hereafter the case was referred to the UCI to consider further action on sanction and consequences. Following notification the UCI upheld the Athlete's provisional suspension.

In January 2023 the UCI considered that the Athlete refused the Acceptance of Consequences and the case was referred to the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal. Without a hearing the Sole Arbitrator rendered a decision based on the written submissions of the Parties.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He requested for a reduced sanction and to lift the provisional suspension.

He argued that his case must be dismissed because there had been irregularities in the proceedings before the PASO DC. Moreover on the basis of ne bis in idem he claimed that the PASO DC had already sanctioned him.

Further the Athlete alleged that the source of the positive test were supplements contaminated by members of the Argentinian Team. Yet, analysis of his supplements revealed no banned substances because the relevant technology was unavailable at the laboratory that conducted the analysis.

Preliminary the Soul Arbitrator determines that there was no violation of the principle of ne bis in idem because under the applicable rules it was valid to refer the case to the UCI for completion of Results Management.

The Sole Arbitrator confirmes the decision of the PASO DC that the Athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation for the presence of a prohibited substance in his sample.

In view of the evidence the Arbitrator concludes that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Furthermore there are also no grounds for a reduced sanction.

The Arbitrator deems that without any corroborating evidence the Athlete did not demonstrate that contaminated supplements were the source of the positive test. Neither did he demonstrate how the prohibited substance had entered his system.

Therefore the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 20 December 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e on 17 December 2021.

The UCI costs for the results management shall be borne by the Athlete.

In February 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Spanish Athlete Mohamed Katir for his Whereabouts Filing Failures and Missed Tests within a 12 month period:

• a Filing Failure on 28 February 2023;
• a Missed Test / Filing Failure on 3 April 2023;
• a Missed Test / Filing Failure on 10 October 2023.

Regarding the first Whereabouts Filing Failure in February 2023 the Athlete explained that he had received a call from his fiancée that she was feeling unwell. He immediately booked a flight to Portugal and updated his Whereabouts information.

Regarding his failure in April 2023 the Athlete explained that during the days before the Mssed Test multiple times he could not update his Whereabouts information in ADAMS due to technical problems with his App.

After the Missed Test in October 2023 he stated that he was surprised to see that his 60-minute time slot was set between 19:20 and 20:20. He asserted that there must have been a system error as prior he had set his 60 minutes time slot between 07:00 and 08:00 uur.

The AIU assessed and addressed the Athlete's explanations and evidence and made the following conclusions:

• The Athlete's flight to Portugal in February 2023 was booked 2 days before his departure and not last minute as claimed by the Athlete.
• He did not timely update his Whereabouts in February 2023 and provided inaccurate information.
• At the material time in April 2023 there had been no technical problems with ADAMS, nor were multiple log in attempts recorded.
• Before the Missed Test in April 2023 his updates in ADAMS were inaccurate and incomplete.
• On the day of the Missed Test in April 2023 he updated his Whereabouts 20 minutes after the arrival of the Doping Control Officer (DCO) and not prior to his 60-minutes timeslot in ADAMS as claimed.
• In October 2023 he had changed his 60-minutes time slot in ADAMS after the DCO had concluded his attempt to locate the Athlete.

Ultimately the Athlete admitted the anti-doping rule violation and signed and submitted an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

Therefore on 16 February 2024 the AIU decides to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 7 February 2024.

In June 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Lithuanian Athlete Zita Kosač after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Mestanolone, Methasterone and Oxymetholone.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete filed a statement in her defence. She believed that her supplement was the source of the prohibited substances.

With approval of the AIU the Athlete provided an open container of this supplement and a sealed container (from a different batch) to the Warshaw Lab for testing. Thereupon analysis in the Lab confirmed the presence of these prohibited substances in both containers of this supplement.

The Athlete asserted that the supplement was the source of the prohibited substances and that she had mentioned this product on the Doping Control Form. Ultimately in February 2024 she signed and submitted an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance Form. 

In view of the evidence the AIU accepts that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and that she demonstrated how the substances had entered her system. The AIU determines that she acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence.

Further the AIU considers that the prohibited substances were not mentioned on the product label of this supplement and that she had participated into a Marathon in September 2023 during the provisional suspension.

Therefore the AIU decides on 16 February 2024 to impose a 6 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting backdated on 25 July 2023.

In July 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Charles Karanja Kamau after his sample tested positive for Testosterone and its metabolites.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and he was heard for the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal.

In this case there were delays attributed to the Athlete. He failed to communicate properly with his pro bono counsel, nor did he file a statement in his defence within the set deadline.

The Athlete accepted the test result and denied the intentional use of the substance. He stated that he only had used medication and supplements which he had mentioned on the Doping Control Form.

The Athlete acknowledged that he had not checked his supplements for banned substances, nor had he consulted experts in this matter. For his supplements he followed the recommendations from his manager, a friend and a nutritionist.

The AIU requested the Tribunal to impose a sanction of 4 years and contended that the Athlete had failed to demonstrate the source of the prohibited substance. Furthermore the AIU considered that the Athlete's supplements did not contain Testosterone, neither were these supplements tested.

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

In view of the evidence and the Athlete's conduct in this case the Sole Arbitrator deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate  that the violation was not intentional. He also deems that he acted negligently with the supplements.

Therefore the Disciplinary Tribunal decides on 12 February 2024 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 4 July 2023.

In November 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping violation against the Indian Athlete Kumari Rachna after her A and B samples - collected in September 2023 - tested positive for the prohibited substances Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, Metandienone and Stanozolol.

Additionally in December 2023 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete when her sample - collected in November 2023 - tested positive for Clenbuterol. Thereupon this case was transferred by INADA to the the AIU.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered by the AIU. Hereafter the Athlete failed to respond at all or to provide any information to the AIU.

The AIU establishes that this is the Athlete's second anti-doping rule violation as she had served a sanction of 4 years until 17 March 2019 for the presence of Metenolone in her sample. Furthermore the AIU determines that there are aggravating circumstances in this case since the Athlete had used multiple prohibited substances on multiple occasions.

Because the Athlete failed to respond in February 2024 the AIU finds that she is deemed to have waived her right for a hearing, admitted the anti-doping rule violations and accepted the consequences.

Therefore the AIU decides on 13 February 2024 to impose a 12 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 24 November 2023.

Related case:

IAAF 2019 IAAF vs Sarah Chepchirchir
November 28, 2019

In December 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Sarah Chepchirchir after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Testosterone.

Previously the Athlete had served a sanction of 4 years, until 9 February 2023, because of the abnormalities in her Athlete Biological Passport.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The AIU established that this is the Athlete's second anti-doping rule violation and that she failed at all to respond at all or to provide any information to the AIU.

Because of the Athlete's failure to respond within the set deadline the AIU in February 2024 determines that she was deemed to have waived her right to a hearing, to have admitted the anti-doping rule violation and to have accepted the consequences.

Therefor the AIU decides on 13 February 2024 to impose an 8 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 22 December 2023.

In June 2023 the India National Anti-Doping Agency (INADA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kabaddi Athlete Durgesh Kumar after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Metandienone.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and he was heard for the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of India (ADDPI). The Athlete denied the use of the prohibited substance and could not explain how it had entered his system.

The Panel finds that the presence of prohibited substance 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 ADDPI decides on 10 January 2024 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 9 June 2023.