USADA announced today that Gil Roberts, of Los Angeles, Calif., an athlete in the sport of track and field, has accepted a 16-month period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation.
Roberts, 33, tested positive for andarine and ostarine (enobosarm) as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample collected on May 19, 2022. Andarine and ostarine are Non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents and are 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 World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Following an investigation into the circumstances of his case, USADA determined that Roberts’s positive test was caused by his use of a dietary supplement that did not list any prohibited ingredients on the label. Detailed analysis of a sealed container of the supplement revealed that the supplement contained andarine and ostarine, and the WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah confirmed the finding. The supplement has been added to the USADA High Risk List.
Athletes and other sport stakeholders are reminded that, unlike medications, dietary supplements sold in the U.S. do not receive any pre-market safety or efficacy reviews by government authorities. Thus, an increased level of due diligence is necessary to challenge the reasons for use and understand the risks of a positive anti-doping test and/or an adverse health event.
Roberts’s 16-month period of ineligibility began on June 3, 2022, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Roberts has been disqualified from competitive results obtained on and subsequent to May 19, 2022, the date his positive sample was collected, 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 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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