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Tag: world anti-doping agency

  • Grand Slam champion Simona Halep banned from competition for anti-doping violations

    Grand Slam champion Simona Halep banned from competition for anti-doping violations

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    Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam tennis champion, has been suspended from competing for four years for violating anti-doping policies, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced Tuesday.

    Halep, 31, is accused of two separate breaches of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP): the use of roxadustat, a prohibited substance; and irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport, which is used to monitor a player’s biological variables over time, the organization said.

    Roxadustat is often used to treat anemia, but is prohibited in the sport because it increases hemoglobin and the production of red blood cells, the ITIA explained in its statement.

    “The ITIA has followed the proper processes as we would with any other individual —in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code— fulfilling our purpose and responsibility to uphold the principle of fair competition, on behalf of the sport,” said Karen Moorhouse, the CEO of the ITIA.

    The roxadustat was found in a urine sample from Halep collected during the U.S. Open in 2022. The Romanian athlete claimed that the substance was detected due to a contaminated supplement she took; however, the ITIA determined “the volume the player ingested could not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustat found in the positive sample.”

    The expert group evaluating Halep’s Athlete Biological Passport determined that the evidence of doping was strong enough to charge her with the anti-doping violation. “The ABP charge was also upheld, with the tribunal stating that they had no reason to doubt the unanimous ‘strong opinion’ reached by each of the three independent Athlete Passport Management Unit experts that ‘likely doping’ was the explanation for the irregularities in Halep’s profile.”

    In a statement posted to social media on Tuesday, Halep “refused to accept the decision,” denied any wrongdoing and said she would appeal the suspension.

    “I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis,” she wrote. “I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance.”

    According to Halep, she has taken 200 blood and urine tests throughout her career to check for prohibited drugs, and they have all come out clean —until the urine test in August 2022. She explained that the roxadustat must have been found due to a recent change to her nutritional supplements, which did not contain any prohibited substances, but could have been contaminated. 

    She added that her nearly-weekly drug tests throughout 2023 have been negative. 

    Halep is also alleging that the ITIA’s expert group only brought an Athlete Biological Passport charge after discovering her identity, changing the opinions of two out of three of the evaluators.

    Patrick Mouratoglou, Halep’s coach, spoke out against the suspension as well, saying he is “shocked” by the behavior of the ITIA.

    “I do not believe that the ITIA looked for the truth in Simona’s case, and I do not believe that they treated her in a way that is acceptable,” Mouratoglou wrote.

    The suspension, which is backdated, will run from Oct. 7, 2022, to Oct. 6, 2026.

    Simrin Singh

    Simrin Singh is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

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  • WADA appeals case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva to Court of Arbitration for Sport | CNN

    WADA appeals case of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva to Court of Arbitration for Sport | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    The protracted doping saga involving Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva entered another phase on Tuesday as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

    Last month, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) effectively cleared Valieva of wrongdoing, saying that the 16-year-old had violated anti-doping rules but bore no “fault or negligence” for the transgression.

    But WADA believes such a conclusion is “wrong” and has now exercised its right to appeal the ruling.

    Valieva was suspended by RUSADA the day after she guided the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to victory in the figure skating team event at last year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she also became the first woman in history to land a quadruple jump at the Games.

    However, it came to light during the course of the Olympics that Valieva had tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine – which can enhance endurance – in December 2021.

    Valieva has not publicly explained the positive test results.

    The ROC placed first in the team event in Beijing ahead of the USA in second, Japan in third and Canada in fourth, but no medal ceremony was held as a result of the doping controversy.

    In a statement on Tuesday, WADA said it is seeking a four-year period of ineligibility for Valieva and disqualification of her results from the date of the sample collection on December 25, 2021.

    “As it has sought to do throughout this process, WADA will continue to push for this matter to proceed without further undue delay,” the statement added.

    “Given the case is now pending before CAS, WADA can make no further comment at this time.”

    CNN has contacted RUSADA and the International Olympic Committee for comment.

    Valieva was cleared to compete in the women’s singles event at the Winter Olympics but ultimately placed fourth after falling and stumbling several times during the competition.

    Travis Tygart, the CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said on Tuesday that the decision to appeal Valieva’s case to CAS “had to be done in order to restore some confidence in the global anti-doping system.”

    He added: “Let’s hope the hearing is expedited and open to the public so that the athletes whose dreams are hanging in the balance can believe in the final outcome, whatever it may be, and that some justice can be salvaged soon.”

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  • Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva cleared by RUSADA, WADA to review doping decision and consider appeal | CNN

    Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva cleared by RUSADA, WADA to review doping decision and consider appeal | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) found figure skater Kamila Valieva violated anti-doping rules but bore no “fault or negligence” for the transgression, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

    The ruling in effect clears Valieva of wrongdoing and administers no punishment beyond the disqualification of her results from December 25, 2021 – the date of her sample collection.

    The decision, made by a RUSADA tribunal, would allow the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to earn the gold medals won in the team figure skating event at the Beijing Olympics in 2022.

    CNN has reached out to RUSADA for comment.

    The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released a statement implying it is likely to appeal the verdict.

    “WADA notes this outcome and has requested a copy of the full reasoned decision, which it will review together with the case file in order to determine whether the ruling is in line with the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code,” it said in a statement.

    “However, based on the elements of the case with which WADA is already familiar, the Agency is concerned by the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ and will not hesitate to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as appropriate.

    “Following a full review of the RUSADA decision, WADA will consider what its next steps will be so that the matter is dealt with as quickly as possible and without further undue delay.”

    Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said in a statement to CNN: “WADA and the ISU [International Skating Union] have to appeal this decision, for the sake of the credibility of the anti-doping system and the rights of all athletes.

    “The world can’t possibly accept this self-serving decision by RUSADA, which in the recent past has been a key instrument of Russia’s state sponsored doping fraud and is non-compliant. Justice demands a full, fair, public hearing outside of Russia.”

    Valieva, who is now 16, was suspended by RUSADA the day after she guided the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) to victory in the team event in Beijing, where she became the first woman to land a quadruple jump in the Winter Olympics.

    She tested positive for a banned substance – the heart medication trimetazidine, which can enhance endurance – in December 2021. But the results of the failed December drug test only came to light during the Olympics when it was analyzed and reported to RUSADA.

    Valieva has not publicly explained the positive test results.

    Team USA finished second in the team event in Beijing, Japan in third, and Canada fourth. As a result of the doping controversy, no medal ceremony was held during the Games.

    CNN has reached out to the ISU and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for comment.

    In a statement to CNN, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said: “As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Beijing Games, it remains very important that the figure skating team event athletes who competed in Beijing get the resolution they deserve.

    “We thank WADA for their commitment to reviewing this issue and moving the process forward as expeditiously as possible.”

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