USADA announced today that Christian DesChamps, of Cypress, Texas, an athlete in the sport of cycling, has accepted a 14-month sanction for committing three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period.
“Providing accurate and timely Whereabouts information can be a chore for athletes, but it’s an incredibly important one that helps ensure they can compete on a level playing field,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart. “Whereabouts information enables the no advance notice, out-of-competition testing necessary to detect prohibited substances with short detection windows and this is critical to keeping dopers on the sideline.”
At the time of the Whereabouts Failures, DesChamps, 19, was a member of the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which consists of a select group of elite athletes subject to certain Whereabouts requirements to be located for out-of-competition testing. Within a 4-month period, DesChamps accrued three Whereabouts Failures, the first for a Filing Failure on March 26, 2023; the second for a Filing Failure on July 1, 2023; and the third for a Filing Failure on July 17, 2023. Shortly after committing his third Whereabouts Failure, DesChamps submitted his official retirement notice on July 25, 2023.
The accumulation of three Whereabouts Failures within a 12-month period constitutes a 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 International Cycling Union Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code. The period of ineligibility for Whereabouts rule violations ranges from one year to two years depending on the athlete’s degree of fault. In this case, USADA determined that a 14-month period of ineligibility was appropriate because DesChamps’s degree of fault was relatively low given the unique personal circumstances of the case.
DesChamps’s 14-month period of ineligibility began on January 24, 2024, the date he returned from retirement. In addition, DesChamps has been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to July 17, 2023, the date of his third Whereabouts Failure in a 12-month period, 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 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 (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, a nutrition guide, an 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.
For more information or media inquiries, email media@usada.org.