The ITA acknowledges the decision of CAS imposing a four-year period of ineligibility on weightlifter Vicky Schlittig

On 22 November 2021, the ITA on behalf of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) notified the athlete that a sample collected from her by the ITA during an in-competition test had returned an adverse analytical finding ¹ for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone (DHCMT) a non-specified prohibited substance under the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The athlete was provisionally suspended with immediate effect.

DHCMT is also known as oral turinabol is a potent anabolic steroid prohibited under the  WADA prohibited list (S.1.1). It is prohibited at all times (in-competition and out-of-competition).

Following the results management process conducted by the ITA, the ITA submitted the matter for adjudication to CAS ADD and requested CAS ADD to impose a four-year period of ineligibility and the disqualification of competitive results.

On 2 August 2023, CAS ADD confirmed that the athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation for the presence of a prohibited substance in her sample. However, CAS ADD concluded that the athlete had been able to establish that she bore “no fault or negligence” for the ADRV and hence, no period of ineligibility was imposed. The provisional suspension imposed was consequently lifted.

The ITA on behalf of the IWF as well as WADA appealed the CAS ADD decision to CAS.

A hearing took place on 28 May 2024 in which the ITA represented the IWF. After hearing the parties and considering the written submissions and evidence, on 26 February 2025 CAS set aside the CAS ADD decision and confirmed that the athlete had committed an ADRV for presence of a prohibited substance and sanctioned her with a period of ineligibility of four years from the date of the CAS award ². CAS also confirmed the disqualification of the athlete’s competitive results from 26 September 2021 onwards.

CAS notably remarked that the athlete had been unable to establish the source of the ADRV for the purpose of demonstrating non-intentional ingestion or contact and therefore there were no grounds to reduce the applicable period of ineligibility.

The ITA will not comment further on this case.