USADA announced today that Lindsey Corrigan, of Napa, California, an athlete in the sport of taekwondo, has accepted a two-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.
Corrigan, 18, failed to provide a sample after being notified by a USADA doping control officer during an out-of-competition test on August 27, 2022, which was her first ever test. The attempt to test Corrigan was a routine test in accordance with USADA’s annual test distribution plan. Failing to provide a sample without compelling justification is an anti-doping 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 Taekwondo Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Under the applicable rules, athletes may qualify for a reduction from the default four-year period of ineligibility if they can show that their failure to submit to sample collection was not intentional or if they can establish exceptional circumstances that justify a reduction of the period of ineligibility. Through its investigation, USADA determined that Corrigan negligently failed to provide a sample due in part to her misunderstandings regarding her retirement status and the timing of USADA’s test attempt.
Under the Code, all athletes serving a period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation are required to continue to make themselves available for testing to receive credit for time completed under their sanction. If an athlete retires before or during their period of ineligibility, the athlete’s sanction will be tolled until the athlete returns from retirement and once again becomes available for no-advance-notice, out-of-competition testing for the period of ineligibility.
Corrigan’s two-year period of ineligibility took effect on January 18, 2023, the date her provisional suspension was imposed, but Corrigan retired on October 28, 2022. Therefore, her period of ineligibility will continue until she returns from retirement and serves the remainder of her period of ineligibility. In addition, Corrigan has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to August 27, 2022, the date she failed to provide a sample, 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 (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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