USADA announced today that Andrew Butterworth, of Indianapolis, Ind., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, has accepted a seven-year suspension for his second anti-doping rule violation. Butterworth’s first violation was announced in 2018, when he received a 42-month suspension after testing positive for stanozolol.
Butterworth, 31, refused to provide a sample as requested by a USADA doping control officer during an out-of-competition test on August 31, 2021. Evading sample collection or refusing or failing to submit to sample collection without compelling justification is an anti-doping rule violation 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 (Code) and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Under Article 10.8.1 of the 2021 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, Butterworth qualified for a one-year reduction to the otherwise applicable eight-year period of ineligibility.
Because Butterworth retired after his August 31 refusal, the remainder of his 2018 sanction for his first violation and the sanction for his second violation are tolled under the applicable rules. Accordingly, Butterworth’s seven-year period of ineligibility will begin after he unretires and serves the remainder of the sanction for his first violation. In addition, Butterworth has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to August 31, 2021, the date he refused to provide a 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 (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as an easy-reference wallet card with examples of prohibited and permitted substances, a supplement guide, a nutrition guide, an athlete 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 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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