USADA announced today that Quintaveon Poole, of Tennille, Ga., an athlete in the sport of track & field, has accepted a 6-month sanction for an anti-doping rule violation after testing positive for a prohibited substance.
Poole, 18, tested positive for methylhexaneamine as a result of an in-competition urine sample he provided at the 2014 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held in Humble, Texas on July 27, 2014. Methylhexaneamine is substance in the class of stimulants prohibited under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the International Association of Athletics Federations (“IAAF”) Anti-Doping Rules, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Methylhexaneamine is classified as a Specified Substance, and therefore a sanction resulting from the presence of the substance in an athlete’s sample can range from a public warning up to a maximum two-year suspension, depending on whether the use of the substance was intended to enhance performance and the athlete’s degree of fault for the violation. As required by the rules in a case where less than two years ineligibility is given for use of a specified substance, Poole was able to establish that his use of the substance was not intended to enhance his sport performance.
Poole’s period of ineligibility began on July 27, 2014, the date his sample was collected. In addition, Poole has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to July 27, 2014, 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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