USADA announced today that Andrea Dowling, of Sedro-Woolley, Washington, an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a three-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation.
Dowling, 35, tested positive for methenolone (metenolone) and its metabolite, 1-methylene-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17-one (3α-hydroxy-1-methylene-5α-andostan-17-one), as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected at the 2023 North American Open Series 1 & University Nationals on March 5, 2023. During an investigation of her case, Dowling also admitted that she first possessed and used methenolone on or about December 18, 2022, and used the substance for 11 weeks prior to her positive test on March 5, 2023.
Methenolone is a Non-Specified Substance in the class of Anabolic Agents and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policy, and the International Weightlifting Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Under Article 10.8.1 of the Code, an athlete who faces an anti-doping rule violation that carries a period of ineligibility of four or more years may receive a one-year sanction reduction if the athlete admits the violation and accepts the asserted sanction within 20 days of notification of the alleged anti-doping rule violation charge. Per the rule, Dowling qualified for a one-year reduction to the otherwise applicable four-year period of ineligibility.
Dowling’s three-year period of ineligibility began on April 18, 2023, the date her provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Dowling has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to December 18, 2022, the date she first used and possessed the prohibited substance that was found in her sample, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as 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 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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