The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Thursday that Crystal Cox of Carrboro, N.C., an athlete in the sport of track and field, tested positive at the 2002 North America, Central America & Caribbean (NACAC) Under-25 Track & Field Championships on Aug. 11, 2002 for ephedrine, a prohibited substance under the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) rules. The IAAF is the international federation for the sport of track and field.
Ephedrine is in a special category of prohibited substances in that it is commonly found in over-the-counter dietary supplements.
Cox, 23, accepted the maximum sanction in accordance with the IAAF rules for a first offense involving the prohibited use of ephedrine. She was issued a public warning and will be disqualified from her first-place finish in the 200 meters at the NACAC Under-25 Track & Field Championships.
This is the 28th announcement issued by USADA in 2002. USADA became the independent anti-doping agency for U.S. Olympic, Pan Am and Paralympic athletes on Oct. 2, 2000.
USADA is the independent anti-doping agency for Olympic sports in the United States, and is responsible for managing the testing and adjudication process for U.S. Olympic, Pan Am and Paralympic athletes. USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
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