USADA announced today that Manteo Mitchell, of Asheville, N.C., an athlete in the sport of bobsled, has accepted a public warning for violating the terms of his sanction.
Mitchell, 38, initially received a two-year period of ineligibility in September 2025 after his sample, collected out-of-competition on February 2, 2025, tested positive for a prohibited substance. The announcement regarding Mitchell’s initial violation can be found here.
Under the terms of his initial sanction, Mitchell is prohibited from participating in any capacity in a competition or activity authorized or organized by a World Anti-Doping Code signatory or club or member organization of a World Anti-Doping Code signatory. He is also prohibited from participating in any professional league, any international-level or national-level event organization, or any elite or national-level sporting activity funded by a governmental agency during his period of ineligibility. USADA received information that Mitchell participated in a virtual USA Track & Field committee meeting on September 30 and October 1, thereby violating the terms of his sanction.
Upon investigating the circumstances of the violation, USADA concluded that Mitchell was operating under the mistaken belief that the terms of his sanction did not prohibit him from participating in this specific activity because he had been invited to participate, the meetings were not sporting practices or events, and the meeting was not related to the sport of bobsled. Under these circumstances, USADA concluded that no additional period of ineligibility was warranted.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as support team members such as parents, coaches, and medical professionals 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 (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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