Use of anabolic androgenic steroids in substance abusers arrested for crime / Lena Lundholm, Kerstin Käll, Sussi Wallin, Ingemar Thiblin. - (Drug and Alcohol Dependence 111 (2010) 3 (1 October); p. 222-226)

• PMID: 20627426
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.04.020

Abstract

Background: Use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) has been associated with both violent crime and the use of illicit drugs. The scientific literature on polysubstance abuse as a confounder for AAS-related violence is sparse and ambiguous. With the intent of further investigating this issue, we have gathered data concerning drug abuse and AAS experience among substance abusers who have been arrested for a variety of crimes.

Methods: Data were collected from structured interviews with substance abusers (n=3597) apprehended at two remand prisons in Sweden from 2002 through 2008. Analyses concerned type of criminal act, primary drug used during the past year, and experience of AAS use.

Results: Those stating AAS experience (n=924, 20 women and 904 men) were more often apprehended for violent crimes (OR=1.65). This association remained significant after controlling for age and sex (OR=1.28). AAS users and non-users claimed similar primary substances of use during the past year, with the exception of benzodiazepine use, which was more common in the AAS group (OR=2.30), although this did not affect the frequency of violent crime. Among AAS-experienced participants, there was no difference in violent crime incidence between current users and former users.

Conclusions: Study results suggest that AASs do not function as a proximal trigger for violence but still involve an increased risk for violence in users of illicit drugs. These findings also suggest that AAS use is highly overrepresented in women who commit crimes.

Ongeteste recreatieve drugs gewoon te koop in webshops / Michiel Olijhoek, Willem Koert. - (Pharmaceutisch Weekblad 155 (2020) 38 (18 September); p. 20-23)

Nederlandse webwinkels verkopen tientallen nieuwe varianten van recreatieve drugs die chemici classificeren als cathinonen, blijkt uit een onderzoek van de Dopingautoriteit. Deze drugs zijn niet getest, zelfs niet op proefdieren. Politie en justitie staan machteloos, maar een op handen zijnde modernisering van
de Opiumwet brengt mogelijk uitkomst.

WADA The 2021 Monitoring Program*

The following substances are placed on the 2021 Monitoring Program:

1. Anabolic Agents:
   In and Out-of-Competition: Ecdysterone
2. Beta-2 Agonists:
   In and Out-of-Competition: Salmeterol and Vilanterol below the Minimum Reporting Level.
3. 2-ethylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazole (bemitil):
   In and Out-of-Competition
4. Stimulants:
   In-Competition only: Bupropion, caffeine, nicotine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pipradrol and synephrine.
5. Narcotics:
   In-Competition only: Codeine, hydrocodone and tramadol.
6. Glucocorticoids:
   In-Competition (by routes of administration other than oral, intravenous, intramuscular, or rectal) and Out-of-Competition (all routes of administration)
   
   

* The World Anti-Doping Code (Article 4.5) states: “WADA, in consultation with Signatories and governments, shall establish a monitoring program regarding substances which are not on the Prohibited List, but which WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.”

Prohibited List January 2021 : The World Anti-Doping Code International Standard / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2020

The Prohibited List is a mandatory International Standard as part of the World Anti-Doping Program.
The List is updated annually following an extensive consultation process facilitated by WADA. The effective date of the List is 1 January 2021.

World Anti-Doping Code International Standard for Laboratories / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2020. - (International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), version 11.0, in force 1 January 2021)

The International Standard for Laboratories first came into effect in November 2002. Further revisions were made after that date. The enclosed International Standard for Laboratories was approved by the WADA Executive Committee on 15 September 2021. The effective date of ISL version 11.0 is 1 January 2021.

In November 2019, a revised version 10.0 of the ISL -- which was reviewed in order to reflect and incorporate relevant changes and update the document in line with new technical, scientific and regulatory developments -- was approved by WADA’s ExCo in May 2019 and became effective on 1 November 2019. Subsequently, a revised version 11.0 of the ISL was drafted to ensure consistency with the 2021 Code and the other Standards. The amended draft 11.0 was circulated for stakeholder consultation from 10 December 2019 to 4 March 2020 and, further to stakeholder feedback, was finalized by the ISL working group and approved by the ExCo. It reflects the aim of WADA and its stakeholders to further improve and harmonize Laboratory-related anti-doping rules and activities.

The modifications within version 11.0, as compared to the current 2019 ISL v. 10.0, include:

1. Removal of footnotes and their incorporation into the main text as comments;
2. Reorganization of some articles in order to make the reading easier to follow and in line with the new ISO/IEC 17025 standard structure and Laboratory sample flow (e.g. storage of samples at the end of the analytical testing process);
3. Revision of the terms and definitions section to include new 2021 Code, new ISL and International Standard for Results Management (ISRM) definitions;
4. Important modifications and updates to Section 4 (Laboratory Accreditation Requirements) in regards, for example to: candidate and probationary laboratories; flexible scope of accreditation; Laboratory independence; Laboratory disciplinary process and consequences of a Laboratory analytical testing restriction; suspension or revocation of the WADA accreditation; as well as, process for approval of a Laboratory by WADA for blood Athlete Biological Passport analysis.
5. Updates to Section 5 (Analysis of Samples), including the translocation of some articles, which has been done in line with the new ISO/IEC 17025 structure and Laboratory sample flow. This section includes important changes and clarifications on requirements for Laboratory security, including control and security of electronic data and information; “A” and “B” sample confirmation procedures; additional analyses that Laboratories may perform on doping control samples in addition to routine anti-doping testing; long-term sample storage and further analysis; reporting of results and secondary use (research, quality assurance) and disposal of samples.
6. Updates to Section 6 (External Quality Assessment Scheme Program) and Section 7 (Laboratory Performance Evaluation), regarding the source of double-blind EQAS samples, reporting of blind and double-blind samples in a timely manner and evaluation of Laboratories under suspension;
7. Further clarifications in some provisions of Annex A: Code of Ethics; and
8. A new Annex B: Accreditation for Major Events, whereas the former Annex B becomes Annex C: Procedural Rules.

On 15 November 2019 the Disciplinary Commission of the Panam Sports Organisation (PASO) concluded that the cyclist Njisane Phillip from Trinidad and Tobago had committed an anti-doping rule violation after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentation above the WADA threshold (193ng/mL).

Consequently the PASO Disciplinary Commission decided to disqualify the results and medals of the Athlete and his team of Trinidad & Tobago during the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. 

Hereafter in November 2019 the Athlete appealed the PASO decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The Athlete requested the Panel to set aside the PASO decision of 15 November 2019 and to order that the gold and silver medals won by the Athlete to remain with him. 

The Athlete argued that PASO’s breach of applicable procedural rules and regulations regarding the following aspects of its results management, disciplinary process and public reporting regarding his violation are so egregious that the Panel should invalidate the Disciplinary Commission Decision in its entirety and restore his cycling competition results in the 2019 Panam Games and medals won:

1. composition of its Doping Review Panel;
2. structure and contents of the Disciplinary Commission Decision; and
3. breach of confidentiality by public reporting of its decision to disqualify the Athlete’s competition results before final resolution of this appeal procedure.

The Athlete admitted the violation and did not dispute that it automatically leads to disqualification of the obtained results. He asserted that there is no evidence that he had used Cannabis to enhance his performance or that it positively impacted his performance. Fairness requires that a lesser penalty would be imposed without consequences for the other athletes in the cycling team of Trinidad & Tobago. 

The Panel finds that no material procedural defects occurred in connection with the structure or contents of the Disciplinary Commission Decision nor the composition of the Doping Review Panel. It recognizes that any procedural defects in either internal process alleged by the Athlete regarding his anti-doping rule violation will be effectively remedied by its de novo review in accordance with Article R57 of the CAS Code. 

The Panel deem that PASO indeed violated the confidentiality requirements as stipulated in the PASO ADR and the ISPPI by public dislosing the Athlete's anti-doping rule violation and disqualification of results after his appeal was filed with CAS in November 2019 en pending before the Panel.

While the PASO’s actions in prematurely reporting the Athlete’s disqualification for his admitted anti-doping rule violation were erroneous, they cannot be remedied by invalidating the entire anti-doping rule violation. 

The Panel concludes that under the applicable Rules the PASO Disciplinary Commission appropriately disqualified the Athlete’s individual results and the Trinidad & Tobago cycling team’s results in the 1 August 2019 team sprint cycling competition as result of the committed anti-doping rule violation. 

Therefore the Court of Arbitration for Sport decides on 8 July 2020 that: 

1.) The appeal filed by Mr. Njisane Phillip on 28 November 2019 against the decision rendered by the Panam Sports Disciplinary Commission on 15 November 2019 is dismissed.

2.) The Award is pronounced without costs, except for the Court Office fee of CHF 1000 (one thousand Swiss Francs) paid by the Appellant, which is retained by the CAS.

3.) (…).

4.) All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.

CAS 2017/A/5444 Olga Zaytseva v. International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Related cases:

IOC 2017 IOC vs Olga Zaytseva - Decision
December 22, 2017

IOC 2017 IOC vs Olga Zaytseva - Operative Part
November 27, 2017

Two reports commissioned by WADA, published by Prof. Richard McLaren as Independent Person (IP) on 18 July 2016 and 9 December 2016, showed detailed evidences of organised manipulation of some Russian samples collected during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The IP reports describe how urine bottles were opened and urine was switched with clean modified urine coming from a “biobank”, and how urine density had to be adjusted to match that recorded on the doping control form (if different at the time of collection) by adding salt to the sample.

As a result of the McLaren Reports the IOC Oswald Commission started investigations in order to establish the possible liability of individual athletes and to issue any sanctions so that decisions could be taken as far in advance of the 2018 Winter Games as possible. At the same time the IOC Schmid Commission started their investigations to establish the facts on the basis of documented, independent and impartial evidence.

All the samples of all Russian athletes who participated in Sochi were re-analysed. The re-analysis establish whether there was doping or whether the samples themselves were manipulated. The findings in the IP Reports were considered in detail and both Commissions conclude that samples or urine collected from Russian Athletes were tampered with in Sochi in a systematic manner and as part of an organized scheme. The Commissions further conclude that it was not possible that the athletes were not fully implicated. They were also the main beneficiaries of the scheme.

The IOC Commissions find that Prof. McLaren’s findings are not only based on the evidence provided by Dr Rodchenkov in his interviews, but on a wealth of other corroborating evidence, including other witnesses, the forensic examination of the sample bottles, the evidence showing abnormal salt results and the additional elements coming from DNA analysis. The corroborating evidence considered by Prof. McLaren included further objective elements, such as e-mails confirming that athletes were protected through different methods.

Olga Zaytseva is a Russian Athlete competing in the Women's Biathlon Events at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
In October 2017 the IOC Disciplinary Commission has reported multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete for tampering, conspiracy and use of prohibited substances. 

Consequently the IOC Disciplinary Commission decided on 22 December 2017 to declare Olga Zaytseva ineligible to be accredited in any capacity for all editions of the Games of the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games subsequent to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games. Further the Commission disqualified the Athlete and her team from the events at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games including forfeiture of any medal, diploma, medallist pin, points and prizes. 

In December 2017 the Athlete Olga Zaytseva appealed the IOC decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In January 2018 the appeals of the Athlete Olga Zaytseva together with the appeals of the Athletes Olga Vilukhina (CAS 2017/A/5434 and Yana Romanova (CAS 2017/A/5435) were stayed until reasoned awards were issued by the CAS in the cases: 

• CAS 2017_A_5379 Alexander Legkov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5380 Evgeniy Belov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5422 Aleksandr Zubkov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5433 Maria Orlova vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5436 Maxim Vylegzhanin vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5441 Alexander Rumyantsev vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5445 Yulia Chekaleva vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5446 Anastasia Dotsenko vs IOC

After the rendering of these reasonded decisions the CAS proceedings of the Athletes Olga Zaytseva, Olga Vilukhina and Yana Romanova  were resumed in December 2018. 

The Athlete disputed the reliability of the filed evidence provided by the IOC, Prof. McLaren and Dr. Rodchenko and pointed to various inconsistencies in this evidence. She argued that the IOC did not only failed to provide any credible evidence on her supposed involvement in the so-called organised doping scheme or of her being aware of any doping scheme supposedly tailored to protect her, but did not even establish that she ever used a prohibited substance. The IOC merely relies on a speculation which is not admissible when the issues at stake are so serious and carry severe consequences for the Athlete. 

The IOC contended that the Athlete had personally committed various anti-doping rule violations, namely: 

• using a prohibited substance, i.e. the Duchess Cocktail, and using a prohibited method, i.e. urine substitution;
• tampering with any part of the doping control; and
• cover-up of and complicity in the commission of an ADRV.

The IOC, in its written submissions, provided a detailed description of the doping and cover-up scheme that allegedly operated in Russia from 2011 to 2015.

The IOC contended that the McLaren Reports and the Schmid Report both identified the Disappearing Positive Methodology as the origin of the institutionalised doping and cover-up scheme while Dr. Rodchenkov identified the main aspects to the Disappearing Positive Methodology in his affidavits. 

With regard to the Athlete’s implication in this scheme, the IOC asserted that:

- The Athlete’s B sample bottles had multiple T marks and elevated sodium levels, i.e. evidence of tampering.
- The Athlete’s implication in the doping scheme was also demonstrated by the evidence of Dr. Rodchenkov. 

The IOC requested the Panel to confirm the existence of a generalised doping scheme in Russia before and during the Sochi Games, one which enabled the Athlete to participate in a doping-control free environment. Also th IOC requested the Panel, to find a link (even contextual) between the Athlete or one of her urine samples and the generalised doping scheme which is sufficient to allow it to conclude that the Athlete has committed one or more of the alleged ADRVs. 

Having considered the submissions of the Parties, the written evidence as well as the oral evidence and testimonies provided at the hearing the, in the present case, the Panel is comfortably satisfied that, the elevated sodium level found in the Athlete’s B sample constitutes reliable evidence to support the conclusion that the urine the Athelte provided was likely to have been deliberately swapped against clean urine that the Athlete had provided in advance to the Sochi Games.

Thus, the Panel finds to its comfortable satisfaction, on the basis of the evidence before it, that the Athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation for use of a prohibited substance and use of a prohibited method. However the Panel is not comfortably satisfied that the Athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation for tampering, neither for complicity.

Therefore the Court of Arbitration for Sport decides on 24 September 2018 that: 

1.) The appeal filed by Ms. Olga Zaytseva on 6 December 2017 against the decision of the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 1 December 2017 is partially upheld.

2.) Paragraph I (a) of the Decision rendered by the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 1 December 2017 is modified as follows:

I. The Athlete, Olga ZAYTSEVA :

a) is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, in connection with the World Anti-Doping Code.

3.) Paragraph V of the Decision rendered by the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 1 December 2017 is annulled and replaced as follows:

V. Olga ZAYTSEVA is declared ineligible to be accredited in any capacity for the next edition of the Olympic Winter Games subsequent to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games (i.e. PyeongChang 2018).

4.) All other rulings contained in the Decision rendered by the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 1 December 2017 are maintained.

5.) (…).

6.) (…).

7.) All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.

CAS 2017/A/5435 Yana Romanova v. International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Related case:

IOC 2017 IOC vs Yana Romanova - Operative Part
November 27, 2017

Two reports commissioned by WADA, published by Prof. Richard McLaren as Independent Person (IP) on 18 July 2016 and 9 December 2016, showed detailed evidences of organised manipulation of some Russian samples collected during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The IP reports describe how urine bottles were opened and urine was switched with clean modified urine coming from a “biobank”, and how urine density had to be adjusted to match that recorded on the doping control form (if different at the time of collection) by adding salt to the sample. 

As a result of the McLaren Reports the IOC Oswald Commission started investigations in order to establish the possible liability of individual athletes and to issue any sanctions so that decisions could be taken as far in advance of the 2018 Winter Games as possible. At the same time the IOC Schmid Commission started their investigations to establish the facts on the basis of documented, independent and impartial evidence. 

All the samples of all Russian athletes who participated in Sochi were re-analysed. The re-analysis establish whether there was doping or whether the samples themselves were manipulated. The findings in the IP Reports were considered in detail and both Commissions conclude that samples or urine collected from Russian Athletes were tampered with in Sochi in a systematic manner and as part of an organized scheme. The Commissions further conclude that it was not possible that the athletes were not fully implicated. They were also the main beneficiaries of the scheme. 

The IOC Commissions find that Prof. McLaren’s findings are not only based on the evidence provided by Dr Rodchenkov in his interviews, but on a wealth of other corroborating evidence, including other witnesses, the forensic examination of the sample bottles, the evidence showing abnormal salt results and the additional elements coming from DNA analysis. The corroborating evidence considered by Prof. McLaren included further objective elements, such as e-mails confirming that athletes were protected through different methods.

Yana Romanova is a Russian Athlete competing in the Women's Biathlon Events at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. In December 2016 the IOC Disciplinary Commission has reported multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete for tampering, conspiracy and use of prohibited substances. 

Consequently the IOC Disciplinary Commission decided on 27 November  2017 to declare Yana Romanova ineligible to be accredited in any capacity for all editions of the Games of the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games subsequent to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games. Further the Commission disqualified the Athlete and her team from the events at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games including forfeiture of any medal, diploma, medallist pin, points and prizes. 

In December 2017 the Athlete Yana Romanova appealed the IOC decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In January 2018 the appeals of the Athlete Yana Romanova together with the appeals of the Athletes Olga Vilukhina (CAS 2017/A/5434 and Olga Zaytseva (CAS 2017/A/5444) were stayed until reasoned awards were issued by the CAS in the cases: 

• CAS 2017_A_5379 Alexander Legkov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5380 Evgeniy Belov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5422 Aleksandr Zubkov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5433 Maria Orlova vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5436 Maxim Vylegzhanin vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5441 Alexander Rumyantsev vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5445 Yulia Chekaleva vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5446 Anastasia Dotsenko vs IOC

After the rendering of these reasoned decisions the CAS proceedings of the Athletes Yana Romanova, Olga Vilukhina and Olga Zaytseva were resumed in December 2018. 

The Athlete disputed the reliability of the filed evidence provided by the IOC, Prof. McLaren and Dr. Rodchenko and pointed to various inconsistencies in this evidence. She argued that the IOC did not only fail to provide any credible evidence on her supposed involvement in the so-called organised doping scheme or of her being aware of any doping scheme supposedly tailored to protect her, but did not even establish that she ever used a prohibited substance. The IOC merely relies on a speculation which is not admissible when the issues at stake are so serious and carry severe consequences for the Athlete. 

The IOC contended that the Athlete had personally committed various anti-doping rule violations, namely: 

• using a prohibited substance, i.e. the Duchess Cocktail, and using a prohibited method, i.e. urine substitution;
• tampering with any part of the doping control; and
• cover-up of and complicity in the commission of an ADRV.

The IOC, in its written submissions, provided a detailed description of the doping and cover-up scheme that allegedly operated in Russia from 2011 to 2015.

The IOC contended that the McLaren Reports and the Schmid Report both identified the Disappearing Positive Methodology as the origin of the institutionalised doping and cover-up scheme while Dr. Rodchenkov identified the main aspects to the Disappearing Positive Methodology in his affidavits. 

With regard to the Athlete’s implication in this scheme, the IOC asserted that:

- The Athlete’s B sample bottle had multiple T marks, i.e. evidence of tampering.

- The Athlete’s implication in the doping scheme was also demonstrated by the evidence of Dr. Rodchenkov. 

The IOC requested the Panel to confirm the existence of a generalised doping scheme in Russia before and during the Sochi Games, one which enabled the Athlete to participate in a doping-control free environment. Also the IOC requested the Panel, to find a link (even contextual) between the Athlete or one of her urine samples and the generalised doping scheme which is sufficient to allow it to conclude that the Athlete has committed one or more of the alleged ADRVs. 

Having considered the submissions of the Parties, the written evidence as well as the oral evidence and testimonies provided at the hearing the Panel concludes that, in the present case, none of the acts alleged by the IOC has been established to the comfortable satisfaction of the Panel. The Panel further finds that the probative value of circumstantial evidence has its limits and that even when taken together and put into context, in the present case the different strands of factual and forensic evidence submitted by the IOC do not lead the Panel to be comfortably satisfied that the Athlete was personally and knowingly implicated in any of the alleged acts. 

Accordingly, the Panel concludes that the Athlete’s appeal against the decision of the IOC DC rendered on 27 November 2017 shall be upheld and the appealed decision set aside. 

Therefore the Court of Arbitration for Sport decides on 24 September 2018 that: 

1.) The appeal filed by Ms. Yana Romanova on 1 December 2017 against the International Olympic Committee with respect to the decision of the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 27 November 2017 is upheld.

2.) The decision of the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 27 November 2017 is partially set aside, except for points II, III, V and VI.

3.) All results achieved by Ms. Yana Romanova upon the occasion of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia in individual events, are reinstated, with all resulting consequences.

4.) (…).

5.) (…).

6.) All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.

CAS 2017/A/5434 Olga Vilukhina v. International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Related case:

IOC 2017 IOC vs Olga Vilukhina - Operative Part
November 27, 2017

Two reports commissioned by WADA, published by Prof. Richard McLaren as Independent Person (IP) on 18 July 2016 and 9 December 2016, showed detailed evidences of organised manipulation of some Russian samples collected during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. The IP reports describe how urine bottles were opened and urine was switched with clean modified urine coming from a “biobank”, and how urine density had to be adjusted to match that recorded on the doping control form (if different at the time of collection) by adding salt to the sample.

As a result of the McLaren Reports the IOC Oswald Commission started investigations in order to establish the possible liability of individual athletes and to issue any sanctions so that decisions could be taken as far in advance of the 2018 Winter Games as possible. At the same time the IOC Schmid Commission started their investigations to establish the facts on the basis of documented, independent and impartial evidence.

All the samples of all Russian athletes who participated in Sochi were re-analysed. The re-analysis establish whether there was doping or whether the samples themselves were manipulated. The findings in the IP Reports were considered in detail and both Commissions conclude that samples or urine collected from Russian Athletes were tampered with in Sochi in a systematic manner and as part of an organized scheme. The Commissions further conclude that it was not possible that the athletes were not fully implicated. They were also the main beneficiaries of the scheme.

The IOC Commissions find that Prof. McLaren’s findings are not only based on the evidence provided by Dr Rodchenkov in his interviews, but on a wealth of other corroborating evidence, including other witnesses, the forensic examination of the sample bottles, the evidence showing abnormal salt results and the additional elements coming from DNA analysis. The corroborating evidence considered by Prof. McLaren included further objective elements, such as e-mails confirming that athletes were protected through different methods.

Olga Vilukhina is a Russian Athlete competing in the Women's Biathlon Events at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. In December 2016 the IOC Disciplinary Commission has reported multiple anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete for tampering, conspiracy and use of prohibited substances. 

Consequently the IOC Disciplinary Commission decided on 27 November  2017 to declare Olga Vilukhina ineligible to be accredited in any capacity for all editions of the Games of the Olympiad and the Olympic Winter Games subsequent to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games. Further the Commission disqualified the Athlete and her team from the events at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games including forfeiture of any medal, diploma, medallist pin, points and prizes.

In December 2017 the Athlete Olga Vilukhina appealed the IOC decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In January 2018 the appeals of the Athlete Olga Vilukhina together with the appeals of the Athletes Yana Romanova (CAS 2017/A/5435) and Olga Zaytseva (CAS 2017/A/5444) were stayed until reasoned awards were issued by the CAS in the cases:

• CAS 2017_A_5379 Alexander Legkov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5380 Evgeniy Belov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5422 Aleksandr Zubkov vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5433 Maria Orlova vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5436 Maxim Vylegzhanin vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5441 Alexander Rumyantsev vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5445 Yulia Chekaleva vs IOC
• CAS 2017_A_5446 Anastasia Dotsenko vs IOC

After the rendering of these reasonded decisions the CAS proceedings of the Athletes Olga Vilukhina, Yana Romanova and Olga Zaytseva were resumed in December 2018. 

The Athlete disputed the reliability of the filed evidence provided by the IOC, Prof. McLaren and Dr. Rodchenko and pointed to various inconsistencies in this evidence. She argued that the IOC did not only failed to provide any credible evidence on her supposed involvement in the so-called organised doping scheme or of her being aware of any doping scheme supposedly tailored to protect her, but did not even establish that she ever used a prohibited substance. The IOC merely relies on a speculation which is not admissible when the issues at stake are so serious and carry severe consequences for the Athlete. 

The IOC contended that the Athlete had personally committed various anti-doping rule violations, namely:

• using a prohibited substance, i.e. the Duchess Cocktail, and using a prohibited method, i.e. urine substitution;
• tampering with any part of the doping control; and
• cover-up of and complicity in the commission of an ADRV.

The IOC, in its written submissions, provided a detailed description of the doping and cover-up scheme that allegedly operated in Russia from 2011 to 2015.
The IOC contended that the McLaren Reports and the Schmid Report both identified the Disappearing Positive Methodology as the origin of the institutionalised doping and cover-up scheme while Dr. Rodchenkov identified the main aspects to the Disappearing Positive Methodology in his affidavits.

With regard to the Athlete’s implication in this scheme, the IOC asserted that:
- The Athlete’s B sample bottle had multiple T marks, i.e. evidence of tampering.
- The Athlete’s implication in the doping scheme was also demonstrated by the evidence of Dr. Rodchenkov. 

The IOC requested the Panel to confirm the existence of a generalised doping scheme in Russia before and during the Sochi Games, one which enabled the Athlete to participate in a doping-control free environment. Also th IOC requested the Panel, to find a link (even contextual) between the Athlete or one of her urine samples and the generalised doping scheme which is sufficient to allow it to conclude that the Athlete has committed one or more of the alleged ADRVs. 

Having considered the submissions of the Parties, the written evidence as well as the oral evidence and testimonies provided at the hearing the Panel concludes that, in the present case, none of the acts alleged by the IOC has been established to the comfortable satisfaction of the Panel. The Panel further finds that the probative value of circumstantial evidence has its limits and that even when taken together and put into context, in the present case the different strands of factual and forensic evidence submitted by the IOC do not lead the Panel to be comfortably satisfied that the Athlete was personally and knowingly implicated in any of the alleged acts. 

Accordingly, the Panel concludes that the Athlete’s appeal against the decision of the IOC DC rendered on 27 November 2017 shall be upheld and the appealed decision set aside. 

Therefore the Court of Arbitration for Sport decides on 24 September 2018 that: 

1.) The appeal filed by Ms. Olga Vilukhina on 1 December 2017 against the decision of the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 27 November 2017 is upheld.

2.) The decision of the International Olympic Committee Disciplinary Commission dated 27 November 2017 is partially set aside except for points II, III, IV, VI, VII and VIII.

3.) All results achieved by Ms. Olga Vilukhina upon the occasion of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia in individual events, are reinstated, with all resulting consequences.

4.) (…).

5.) (…).

6.) All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed.

In December 2019 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Arran Lee Perry after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Oxandrolone.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered, the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he waived his right for a hearing. The case was settled by the National Anti-Doping Panel based on the written submissions of the Parties.

The Athlete admitted the violation and later he withdrew his claim that the violation was not intentional. The Athlete believed that he would not be tested at his level and was unaware that he was using a prohibited substance. At first he acknowledged the purchase of the supplements RAD 140 and MK-677. Later he believed that the supplement Anavar was the source of the positive test.

Regarding the supplements RAD 140 and MK-677 the RFU contended that research on the internet would reveal that these substances are prohibited Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARM) but they could not explain the positive test for the presence of Oxandrolone. Furthermore the Athlete failed to provide any evidence that could confirm that the supplement Anavar he had used contained the substance Oxandrolone.

The Panel agrees that there are no grounds for a reduced sanction and decides on 10 September 2020 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 20 December 2019.