Beijing 2022 – The ITA asserts an apparent anti-doping rule violation against Iranian athlete Hossein Saveh Shemshaki

The AAF¹ returned for the non-specified prohibited substance dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone metabolite 4α-chloro-18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-5α-androst-13-en-3α-ol (LTM M3) (classified as S1. Anabolic Androgenic Steroid according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)).

The sample was collected by the ITA under the testing authority and results management authority of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during an out-of-competition anti-doping control on 7 February 2022 in Beijing, China. The result was reported by the WADA-accredited laboratory of Beijing on 9 February 2022.

The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity, during the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

The athlete has the right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before the Court of Arbitration for Sport – Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD).

The athlete also has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample.

The ITA is a not-for-profit organisation specialising in the delivery of comprehensive clean sport operations that manages an independent anti-doping program for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments during the ongoing proceeding.

UPDATE:

Upon the athlete’s request, the B-sample was analysed at the WADA-accredited laboratory of Beijing on 11 February 2022, in the presence of the athlete. The laboratory confirmed the presence of the prohibited substance in the B-sample on 12 February, the ITA thus asserted an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) against the athlete. Although the athlete did not challenge the provisional suspension, he requested that the case be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD) for determination of the applicable consequences under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules.

On 14 February 2022 at 17:00 Beijing time, a hearing was held before the CAS ADD. Representatives from the ITA, FIS and pro bono counsels representing the athlete attended the hearing. The parties were able to present their respective submissions and the athlete was able to provide his explanations to the sole arbitrator.

On 15 February at 16:00 Beijing time, the sole arbitrator issued a partial award finding that the athlete had indeed committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.1 of the IOC anti-doping rules for the presence of DHCMT long-term metabolite in both his A and B samples.

The sole arbitrator, therefore, declared the athlete ineligible to compete in all upcoming competitions at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, excluded the athlete and withdrew his accreditation from the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

The proceedings shall now continue by and between the Fédération Internationale de Ski (“FIS”) and the athlete for the imposition of the applicable sanctions under the FIS anti-doping rules.