In February 2016 World Rugby has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Russian rugby player Alena Mikhltsova Bogacheva after her sample, provided on 3 February 2016, tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium (Mildronate) in a concentration of 20 ng/mL (0.02 μg/mL). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the World Rugby Judicial Committee.

The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that she had used the substance as prescribed medication. Due to Meldonium would be included in the 2016 Prohibited List she stopped using this medication in October 2015.

On 11 April 2016 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a Notice about Meldonium with guidelines in the circumstances that there may be grounds for no fault or negligence on the part of the Athlete.

The Judicial Committee accepts the Athlete’s explanation and finds that the Athlete established on a balance of probability that the anti-doping violation was neither intentional or reckless. Due to the Athlete ceased taking Meldonium in October 2015, it is seriously questionable whether she could have reasonably apprehended there would be minute quantities of the substance in his system after 1 January 2016 and there was a significant risk it might constitute an anti-doping rule violation.

The Committee determine that there was No Fault or Negligence on the Athlete’s part and that the Athlete’s case came within paragraph number 3 of the WADA Notice (Cases where the concentration is below 1 μg/ml and the test was taken before 1 March 2016). As a result the Judicial Committee concludes that there are grounds to reduce the period of ineligibility from 4 to 2 years and also to eliminate this 2 year period of ineligibility.

Therefore the World Rugby Judicial Committee decides on 3 May 2016, and in its final decision of 3 June 2016, that with the elimination of the 2 year period of inelibilibility the Athlete was permitted to resume playing Rugby immediately.

In February 2016 World Rugby has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Russian rugby player Aleksey Mikhltsov after his sample, provided on 18 January 2016, tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium (Mildronate) in a concentration of 25 ng/mL (0.025 μg/ml). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the World Rugby Judicial Committee.

The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that he acted neither intentional or reckless and that had used the substance as prescribed medication on advice of his club doctor until October 2015. Due to Meldonium would be included in the 2016 Prohibited List he used another medication instead of Meldonium.

On 11 April 2016 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a Notice about Meldonium with guidelines in the circumstances that there may be grounds for no fault or negligence on the part of the Athlete.

The Judicial Committee accepts the Athlete’s explanation and finds that the Athlete established on a balance of probability that the anti-doping violation was neither intentional or reckless. Because the Athlete ceased taking Meldonium in October 2015, it is seriously questionable whether he could have reasonably apprehended there would be minute quantities of the substance in his system after 1 January 2016 and there was a significant risk it might constitute an anti-doping rule violation.

The Committee determines that there was No Fault or Negligence on the Athlete’s part and that the Athlete’s case came within paragraph number 3 of the WADA Notice (Cases where the concentration is below 1 μg/ml and the test was taken before 1 March 2016). As a result the Judicial Committee concludes that there are grounds to reduce the period of ineligibility from 4 to 2 years and also to eliminate this 2 year period of ineligibility.

Therefore the World Rugby Judicial Committee decides on 25 May 2016, and in its final decision of 2 June 2016, that with the elimination of the 2 year period of inelibilibility the Athlete was permitted to resume playing Rugby immediately.

In September 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Uzbek Athlete Farida Soliyeva after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium.

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

The Athlete explained that in March 2023 she had used Ripronate (Meldonium) capsuls without a prescription. Further she demonstrated with medical documents that in late March 2023 after consultation she had received Meldonium injections for her diagnosed condition.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Because she had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 8 April 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 13 September 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.

Results of the WADA monitoring program regarding substances which are not on the 2014 Prohibited List, but which WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect patterns of misuse in sport. These substances are:

In Competition Monitoring:
- Tapentadol,
- Mitragynine
- Tramadol,
- Hydrocodone
- Caffeine

In and Out of Competition Monitoring:
- Meldonium
- Telmisartan

THE 2015 MONITORING PROGRAM*

The following substances are placed on the 2015 Monitoring Program:

1. Stimulants:

In-Competition only: Bupropion, caffeine, nicotine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pipradrol, pseudoephedrine (< 150 micrograms per milliliter), synephrine.

2. Narcotics: In-Competition only: Hydrocodone, mitragynine, morphine/codeine ratio; tapentadol; tramadol.

3. Glucocorticosteroids: In and Out-of-Competition only

* 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 patterns of misuse in sport.”

Prohibited List January 2024 : The World Anti-Doping Code International Standard / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

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 2024.

Prohibited List January 2023 : The World Anti-Doping Code International Standard / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2022

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 01 January 2023.