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14 October 2025
The ITA, on behalf of the IWF, confirms that the Moldovan weightlifter Alexandru Spac has agreed¹ to the consequences imposed for his anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).
The athlete tested positive for the prohibited substance DHCMT after providing two samples on 27 July 2016 and 10 August 2016, respectively, during the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The athlete’s samples were re-analysed as part of the sample re-analysis program for the Olympic Games Rio 2016.
DHCMT is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List as S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS). It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a non-specified substance. DHCMT is a derivative of testosterone. It is a synthetically created anabolic steroid which causes rapid growth of the muscles, which in turn leads to high increases in strength performance.
As previously reported by the ITA, on 28 May 2025 the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD) issued its award holding that the athlete had committed an ADRV for the presence and use of a prohibited substance and referred the matter to the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to determine the applicable consequences under the IWF Anti-Doping Rules (IWF ADR).
The athlete did not challenge his ADRV and agreed with the consequences for his ADRV under the IWF ADR as proposed by the ITA. Accordingly, the case was resolved via an acceptance of consequences.
Due to his early admission of the ADRV, the athlete was entitled to a one-year reduction of the applicable period of ineligibility as set forth in article 10.8.1 of the IWF ADR.²
The athlete was previously sanctioned by the IWF with a period of ineligibility of two years from 11 April 2013 until 11 April 2015 for the presence of the prohibited substance stanozolol in a sample collected on 11 April 2013. As a result, the seven-year period of ineligibility is from 19 July 2024 until 18 July 2031. Additionally, all the athlete’s individual competitive results from the date of the first sample collection (27 July 2016) to the start of the period of ineligibility are disqualified, including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes.
The relevant stakeholders, namely the World Anti-Doping Agency and the responsible National Anti-Doping Organisation, have a right to appeal the consequences imposed before the appeals division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The ITA will not comment further on this case.
¹ Athletes have the right to choose not to have their case referred to a hearing panel. In these instances, the anti-doping organisation will assess the athlete’s case file and establish the applicable consequences pursuant to the anti-doping rules and the athlete will have the right to accept the proposed consequences. If the athlete refuses the proposed consequences, the case is transferred to a hearing panel. This resolution mechanism is provided for in articles 8.3.1 and 8.3.3 of the IWF anti-doping rules and 8.3 of the World Anti-Doping Code and is commonly referred to as an agreement on consequences and is deemed an IWF/ITA decision. The athlete’s National Anti-Doping Organisation and the World Anti-Doping Agency have the right to appeal the agreement on consequences before the competent appeal body.
² Article 10.8.1 of the IWF ADR (and World Anti-Doping Code) provides for a one-year reduction for certain ADRVs based on early admission and acceptance of sanction. This applies where an athlete after being notified by IWF /ITA of a potential ADRV that carries an asserted period of Ineligibility of four (4) or more years, admits the violation and accepts the asserted period of Ineligibility no later than twenty (20) days after receiving notice of an ADRV charge. Where the athlete receives the one-year reduction under Article 10.8.1, no further reduction in the period of Ineligibility is allowed.
