USADA announced today that Cary Cooper, of Houston, Texas, an athlete in the sport of track and field, has accepted a two-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation.
Cooper, 55, refused to provide a sample after being notified by a USADA doping control officer during an in-competition test at the USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championships on July 20, 2024. Evading sample collection or refusing or failing to provide a sample without compelling justification is an anti-doping rule violation under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Under the applicable rules, the maximum sanction for Recreational Athletes who evade sample collection or refuse or fail to provide a sample is a two-year period of ineligibility. USADA determined that Cooper currently qualifies as a Recreational Athlete under the rules, and therefore the appropriate period of ineligibility is two years.
Cooper’s two-year period of ineligibility took effect on July 31, 2024, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Cooper has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to July 20, 2024, the date he refused to provide a sample, including forfeiture of any medals, points, records 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 file and update athlete Whereabouts, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements, as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.
In addition, USADA manages a drug reference hotline, Global Drug Reference Online (GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as a supplement guide, a nutrition guide, a clean sport handbook, and periodic alerts and advisories.
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 text at 87232 (“USADA”), 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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