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16 January 2025

The ITA reports that a sample provided by handball player Miguel Soares Martins returned an Adverse Analytical Finding

The International Testing Agency (ITA), leading an independent anti-doping program for the International Handball Federation (IHF), reports that it has notified Portuguese handball player Miguel Soares Martins of an Adverse Analytical Finding for exogenous testosterone.

The ITA reports that a sample collected from Portuguese player Miguel Soares Martins during an in-competition anti-doping control at the 2024 EHF Euro on 13 January 2024 has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding1 for exogenous testosterone, a non-specified substance2. Exogenous testosterone is prohibited at all times under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List as an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (S1.1).

The athlete has been notified of the case and has requested for the analysis of the B-sample.

If the B-sample analysis confirms the result of the A-sample, the case will be considered as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation and the athlete will have the opportunity to present his explanations for the result.

In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and Article 7.4.1 of the IHF Anti-Doping Rules, the athlete has been provisionally suspended with effect from 14 January 2025. The athlete has the right to challenge the provisional suspension and ask for its lifting.

Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments made.

 

Update of 14 February 2025

Upon request of Mr. Miguel Soares Martin, the B-sample collected at the same time of the A-sample from the player was analysed by the same WADA-accredited laboratory who performed the A-sample analysis and reported an Adverse Analytical Finding for exogenous testosterone. Today, the WADA-accredited laboratory reported that the B-sample did not confirm the A-sample result. In accordance with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), when such exceptional circumstances occur, the WADA-accredited laboratory will conduct an internal investigation to identify the causes of the discrepancy between the A-sample and B-sample results.

Pursuant to Article 7.4.5 of the IHF Anti-Doping Rules (“IHF ADR”)3 (and equivalent provision of the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”)), the player has been informed earlier today that the provisional suspension initially imposed for a potential anti-doping rule violation for the presence of a prohibited substance (article 2.1 IHF ADR) has been removed due to the outcome of the B-sample analysis. The Player is allowed to resume competition and training with immediate effect.

As provided for in the IHF ADR and the Code, and confirmed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a case for use of a prohibited substance or method (article 2.2 of the IHF ADR) may still be pursued in such scenario, depending on the specific facts and evidence of a case. The ITA’s assessment of whether or not a case will be pursued further is ongoing.

Given that the case is underway, there will be no further comments made at this stage.

1 A report from a WADA-accredited laboratory that, consistent with the International Standard for Laboratories, establishes in a sample the presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers or evidence of the use of a prohibited method.
2 The sample was reported positive after being subject to further analysis based on the GC/C/IRMS method conducted to ensure that the origin of the Testosterone is exogenous. This is required under the WADA Technical Document for Detection of Synthetic Forms of Prohibited Substances by GC/C/IRMS. Depending on the circumstances, this additional method may be conducted by WADA-accredited laboratories months after the collection of a sample and its initial analysis.
3 Article 7.4.5 IHF: If a Provisional Suspension is imposed based on an A Sample Adverse Analytical Finding and a subsequent B Sample analysis (if requested by the Player or the IHF) does not confirm the A Sample analysis, then the Player shall not be subject to any further Provisional Suspension on account of a violation of Article 2.1. In circumstances where the Player or the Player's team has been removed from an Event based on a violation of Article 2.1 and the subsequent B Sample analysis does not confirm the A Sample finding, then, if it is still possible for the Player or team to be reinserted, without otherwise affecting the Event, the Player or team may continue to take part in the Event.

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