USADA announced today that Joshua Gilbert of Las Vegas, Nev., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a three-year suspension for his anti-doping rule violation.
Gilbert, 19, tested positive for Furosemide on March 2, 2012 at the National Championships, and refused to submit to doping control on March 20, 2012. Due to the fact that Gilbert had not yet been notified of the results of the March 2nd test prior to his refusal to submit, under the rules both incidents are classified as one anti-doping rule violation. Both incidents are also prohibited under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the International Weightlifting Federation (“IWF”) Anti-Doping Policies, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code.
In accordance with the WADA Code, aggravating circumstances justify a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction, and as such, Gilbert received a three-year period of ineligibility for his anti-doping rule violation which began on April 5, 2012, the day he accepted a provisional suspension. As a result of the sanction, Gilbert is also disqualified from all competitive results obtained on or subsequent to, March 2, 2012, the date his sample was collected, 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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