USADA announced today that Liz Palmer, of Playa Vista, Calif., an athlete in the sport of track & field, has tested positive for a prohibited substance and accepted a four-year sanction for her violation. This sanction was subsequently reduced by six months at the discretion of USADA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and in accordance with the rules, based on Palmer’s prompt admission of the violation.
Palmer, 56, tested positive for the prohibited substance 17β-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-18-norandrost-1,4,13-trien-3-one, a metabolite of methandienone, as a result of an in-competition urine sample she provided on March 5, 2016, at the USA Track & Field (USATF) Masters Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
This substance is in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing (the “Protocol”), the United States Olympic Committee (“USOC”) National Anti-Doping Policies (“USOC NADP”), and the International Association of Athletics Federations (“IAAF”) Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”) and the WADA Prohibited List.
Palmer’s period of ineligibility began on March 5, 2016, the date her positive sample was collected, and will continue for three years and six months. In addition, Palmer has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to March 5, 2016, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
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, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, 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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