USADA announced today that Paulo Miyao, of New York, N.Y., an athlete in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, has accepted an additional three-month sanction and had his results disqualified for competing while ineligible.
Miyao, 27, initially accepted a two-year period of ineligibility and loss of results in May 2017 after a sample he provided during an in-competition test was positive for a prohibited Hormone and Metabolic Modulator. The announcement regarding Miyao’s initial violation can be found here. Despite serving a period of ineligibility that prohibits Miyao from participating in any capacity in a competition or activity authorized or organized by a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), Miyao went on to participate in the World Grappling Championship on September 8, 2018, which was sanctioned by United World Wrestling, the International Federation for the sport of wrestling and a Code Signatory. This participation violated the terms of his sanction, which stated that he was prohibited from participating “in any capacity in a competition or activity . . . authorized or organized by any Signatory, Signatory’s member organization, or a club or other member organization of a Signatory’s member organization.”
During USADA’s investigation into the circumstances of the violation, Miyao provided evidence diminishing his degree of fault with respect to the violation due to his mistaken belief that he was eligible to participate in the event. Nevertheless, an additional period of ineligibility was warranted due to the available information indicating the event was sanctioned by a Code signatory.
Miyao accepted an additional three-month period of ineligibility, meaning his original two-year period of ineligibility beginning on September 29, 2016, has been increased to a 27-month period of ineligibility. Furthermore, Miyao has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to September 8, 2018, the date he participated while ineligible, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements (www.Supplement411.org) as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, USADA manages a drug reference hotline, Global Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as an easy-reference wallet card with examples of prohibited and permitted substances, a supplement guide, an athlete handbook, and periodic alerts and advisories.
Along with education and testing, robust anti-doping programs enable investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers. USADA makes available a number of ways to report the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sport in an effort to protect clean athletes and promote clean competition. Any tip can be reported using the USADA Play Clean Tip Center, by email at playclean@usada.org, by phone at 1-877-Play Clean (1-877-752-9253) or by mail.
USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
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