USADA announced today that Garrett Scantling, of Jacksonville, Fla., an athlete in the sport of track and field, has accepted a three-year suspension for Whereabouts and Tampering anti-doping rule violations.
“The rules keeping sport fair and clean can be inconvenient and burdensome, but athletes fulfilling their obligations under the rules is critical to protect the integrity of competition for all,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart. “Even when a rule violation, like in this case, does not involve the use of prohibited drugs, it is paramount that truthful, open, and complete cooperation happens with organizations like USADA and the Athletics Integrity Unit when investigating any potential rule violations.”
At the time of the Whereabouts Failures, Scantling, 29, was a member of the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which consists of a select group of elite athletes subject to certain Whereabouts requirements in order to be located for out-of-competition testing. Within a 12-month period, Scantling accrued three Whereabouts Failures, the first on August 25, 2021; the second on January 24, 2022; and the third on April 9, 2022. Scantling was successfully tested nine times between his first Whereabouts Failure and his provisional suspension.
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 World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code.
During an investigation into his third potential Whereabouts Failure, Scantling also provided an altered email in defense of his third Whereabouts Failure, constituting a Tampering violation.
Under Code Article 10.8.1, an athlete who faces an anti-doping rule violation that carries a period of ineligibility of four or more years may receive a one-year sanction reduction if the athlete admits the violation and accepts the asserted sanction within 20 days of notification of the alleged anti-doping rule violation charge. Per the rule, Scantling qualified for a one-year reduction to the otherwise applicable four-year period of ineligibility.
Pursuant to a Case Resolution Agreement under Code Article 10.8.2, USADA and the World Anti-Doping Agency agreed to begin Scantling’s three-year period of ineligibility on June 27, 2022, the date he committed a Tampering violation. In addition, Scantling has been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and between June 27, 2022, the date he committed a Tampering violation, and July 21, 2022, the date his provisional suspension was imposed, 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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