USADA announced today that Kevin Castille, of Baton Rouge, La., an athlete in the sport of track and field, has accepted a four-year suspension for an anti-doping rule violation.
Castille, 48, tested positive for 19-norandrosterone (19-NA), the main urinary metabolite of nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) and other 19-norsteroids, as a result of an in-competition drug test conducted at the USA Track & Field Masters 10K Championship on April 28, 2019, at which Castille finished first. The presence of 19-NA was confirmed in his urine sample using a specialized test that differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), which are produced naturally by the body, and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. Anabolic agents have powerful performance-enhancing capabilities and can give an athlete an unfair advantage over fellow competitors.
All AAS, including 19-NA, 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 Policies, 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.
Castille contested his case through the applicable arbitration process until he elected to sign an acceptance of sanction form three days before the arbitration hearing in his case was to begin. Castille accepted a four-year period of ineligibility that began on April 28, 2019, the date his positive sample was collected. In addition, Castille has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to April 28, 2019, including his first place finish at the USA Track & Field Masters 10K Championship and 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 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.
Along with education and testing, robust anti-doping programs enable investigations stemming from tips and whistleblowers. 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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