USADA announced today that a three-member panel of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) has rendered a decision in the case of cycling athlete, Gea Johnson, of Scottsdale, AZ, and has determined that Johnson should receive a 21-month sanction after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
Johnson, 49, tested positive for modafinil as the result of a urine sample she provided on August 10, 2016, at the USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships in Indianapolis, IN. Modafinil is a non-Specified Substance in the class of Stimulants on the WADA Prohibited List and prohibited in-competition under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the International Cycling Union (UCI) Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
The AAA Panel concluded that Johnson used a prescription medication containing modafinil out-of-competition for reasons unrelated to sport performance. But the Panel noted that Johnson did not obtain the medication from a doctor, seek a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), or disclose the medication on her doping control form.
Athletes are advised that the use of a substance or medication out-of-competition, that is prohibited only in-competition, may result in an anti-doping rule violation if the prohibited substance is still present in their body when tested at a competition. If an athlete needs to use a medication prohibited in-competition and they are nearing a competition, they are strongly encouraged to contact USADA to learn if they need a TUE.
Johnson’s 21-month period of ineligibility began on August 10, 2016, the date her positive sample was collected. As a result of the doping violation, Johnson’s competitive results from August 10, 2016, have been disqualified, and any medals, points, and prizes are forfeited.
This decision, as well as other arbitral decisions, can be found here.
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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