USADA announced today that Gabriel Dawson, of Saint Joseph, Mo., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has received a four-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.
Dawson, 17, tested positive for amphetamine as the result of an in-competition urine sample he provided on May 6, 2016, at the 2016 USA Weightlifting National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah. Amphetamine is a non-specified substance in the class of Stimulants and is prohibited in-competition under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Policy, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
A valid therapeutic use exemption (TUE) is required before the use of amphetamine in-competition, which Dawson did not apply for or obtain.
Dawson’s four-year period of ineligibility began on May 6, 2016, the date his positive sample was collected. In addition, Dawson has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to May 6, 2016, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all 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 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 proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference documentation.
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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