USADA announced today that Hillary Tran, of San Bruno, Calif., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a one-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation.
Tran, 28, tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, and d-methamphetamine as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected at the National Championship on July 3, 2021. Cocaine and d-methamphetamine are Non-Specified Substances in the class of Stimulants and 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.
Tran established that her use of cocaine occurred out of competition and was unrelated to sport performance, and she went on to participate in a counseling program. While cocaine is considered a “Substance of Abuse” under the 2021 World Anti-Doping, the presence of d-methamphetamine in the athlete’s sample meant she could not qualify for a reduced sanction under the Substance of Abuse rule. However, USADA concluded that a reduction to the otherwise applicable two-year period of ineligibility for d-methamphetamine was appropriate because an extensive investigation found sufficient evidence that Tran was exposed to d-methamphetamine through a contaminated street drug.
Tran’s one-year period of ineligibility began on July 30, 2021, the date her provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Tran has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to July 3, 2021, the date her 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 an easy-reference wallet card with examples of prohibited and permitted substances, a supplement guide, a nutrition guide, an athlete 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 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, click here.