USADA announced today that Sydney Milani, of Runnells, Iowa, an athlete in the sport of bobsled, has accepted a one-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation.
Milani, 24, tested positive for ostarine (enobosarm) as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected March 9, 2024 and a follow-up out-of-competition urine sample collected on April 11, 2024. Ostarine is a non–Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
In its investigation into the circumstances of the case, USADA concluded that Milani’s positive test was caused by unknowingly consuming a laced energy drink from the person with whom she lived while preparing for a joint workout. Unbeknownst to Milani, that person had been using ostarine and had added ostarine to their energy drink prior to the workout. The person with whom she lived is not an athlete under USADA jurisdiction but was taking ostarine with the goal of improving recovery due to the physical nature of their profession. The low level of ostarine detected in Milani’s urine samples was consistent with this one-time exposure scenario.
Milani’s one-year period of ineligibility began on March 29, 2024, the date her provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Milani has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to March 9, 2024, 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 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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