USADA announced today that an independent arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (AAA), has rendered a decision in the case of Walter Davis of Fresno, Texas, an athlete in the sport of track & field. The arbitrator found that Davis committed an anti-doping rule violation, and imposed a one-year suspension and loss of results for his failure to properly file his whereabouts information.
Davis, 34, became a member of the USADA Registered Testing Pool in 2001. The USADA Registered Testing Pool consists of a select group of athletes subject to certain whereabouts requirements in order to be located for USADA Out-of-Competition testing. Davis failed to keep USADA updated on his whereabouts and, as a result, accrued three Whereabouts Failures between July of 2012 and July of 2013.
Under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) Anti-Doping Rules, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (“Code”), the combination of three Whereabouts Failures within an 18-month period constitutes a rule violation.
Davis’ one-year period of ineligibility, began on April 16, 2014. As a result of the violation, Davis has also been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to July 1, 2013, 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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