THE INTERNATIONAL TESTING AGENCY (ITA), LEADING AN INDEPENDENT ANTI-DOPING PROGRAM FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION (IWF), REPORTS THAT SIX EGYPTIAN WEIGHTLIFTERS HAVE ACCEPTED EACH A TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF INELIGIBILITY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR ANTI-DOPING RULE VIOLATIONS (ADRVS) STEMMING FROM SAMPLES COLLECTED DURING THE 2019 AFRICAN GAMES IN RABAT, MOROCCO.
The six cases concern Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) for the presence of the prohibited stimulant 5-methylhexan-2-amine (1,4-dimethylpentylamine) collected on 29 and 30 August 2019 during the 2019 African Games in Morocco. The prohibited substance is classified as a Specified substance by the World Anti-Doping Code.
The cases were first prosecuted by the Organizing Committee of the African Games (COJAR). Following the conclusion of the results management process by COJAR, the individual results of the athletes obtained at the African Games were disqualified and the matter was referred to the ITA for the continuation of results management under the applicable IWF Anti-Doping Rules in order to determine the applicable sanction for the period following the African Games.
The ITA reports that in line with the IWF Anti-Doping Rules the following athletes have accepted a retrospective period of ineligibility of two years – 22 January 2020 until 21 January 2022:
- Samar Habashy;
- Mohamed Abdelrahman Elsayed;
- Ibrahim Moustafa Wahid Shaaban
- Sara Samir Elsayed Mohamed Ahmed
- Farag Salma Ahmed Mahmoud Awad
- Abdelalim Mahmoud Selim
The athletes have not participated in any event since the date of sample collection, therefore there are no additional results to disqualify.
Under Article 12 of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules when three or more ADRVs sanctioned by the IWF are committed by athletes, officials or athlete support personnel within a 12-month period, the member federation can be suspended, fined and/or have other rights withdrawn. As a result, the matter of the consequences to be imposed on the Egyptian Weightlifting Federation will be referred by the ITA to the IWF’s Independent Member Federation Sanctioning Panel for its determination.
Source: ITA