USADA announced today that Christian Rodriguez Ocasio, of Wadsworth, Ohio, an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a 12-month sanction for an anti-doping rule violation.
Rodriguez Ocasio, 29, tested positive for heptaminol, a metabolite of octodrine, as the result of an in‐competition urine sample he provided at the 2022 North American Open Series 1 & University Nationals on March 4, 2022. Heptaminol and octodrine are Specified Substances in the class of Stimulants and are prohibited in-competition under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Following notification of his positive test, Rodriguez Ocasio provided USADA with information about multiple dietary supplement products he mixed together and was using at the time his positive sample was collected. Although no prohibited substances were listed on any of the supplement labels, subsequent analysis conducted by the WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah, indicated that the mixture of supplements Rodriguez Ocasio provided contained octodrine. A thorough investigation determined this was consistent with his use of the product and positive test result.
The presence of an undisclosed prohibited substance in a product is regarded as contamination and the determination that an athlete’s positive test was caused by a contaminated product may result in a reduced sanction.
Rodriguez Ocasio’s 12-month period of ineligibility began on April 6, 2022, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Rodriguez Ocasio has been disqualified from competitive results obtained on and subsequent to March 4, 2022, the date his positive sample was collected, 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 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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