USADA announced today that Jamaal Daniels, of Raleigh, NC, a coach in the sport of track and field, has accepted a four-year suspension for administering a prohibited substance to Paralympic track and field athlete Desmond Jackson, and subsequently making false statements to USADA during its investigation.
Daniels, who was Jackson’s coach, administered dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to Jackson prior to Jackson’s competition in the USA Track & Field Paralympic Trials on June 18, 2021. DHEA is a Non-Specified Substance in the category of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the International Paralympic Committee Anti-Doping Code, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
The administration and attempted administration of performance-enhancing substances is prohibited under Article 2.8 of the Code. USADA also determined that Daniels committed tampering violations under Article 2.5 of the Code by providing false information to USADA during its investigation, and by encouraging Jackson to withhold material information from USADA. Daniels’ four-year period of ineligibility began on July 27, 2021, the date his provisional suspension was imposed.
USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart said, “Coaches have a responsibility to protect athletes and to ensure that they receive the support, training, and advice they need to win fairly and in accordance with the rules. That did not happen here.”
USADA also brought a case against Jackson in connection with his positive test for DHEA. The case proceeded to arbitration, and on October 11, 2021, an independent arbitrator issued an award imposing a sanction of 20 months on Jackson. For his substantial assistance, USADA granted Jackson an additional six-month reduction of his sanction. USADA’s press release in the Jackson case can be found here, and all arbitration awards can be found here.
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.
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