USADA announced today that a sole arbitrator from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has overturned an independent arbitrator’s initial decision that para track and field athlete Shea Foster, of New York City, N.Y., had not committed an anti-doping rule violation. The initial arbitrator, who also serves as a CAS arbitrator, had accepted Foster’s argument that his positive test resulted from residual traces of a substance he used before becoming subject to the World Anti-Doping Code.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the initial decision and sought a four-year sanction, which USADA requested during the initial hearing and again supported in the appeal. After receiving the parties’ submissions, including new human excretion data for the prohibited substance, the CAS arbitrator issued a decision more than a year later, imposing a four-year period of ineligibility on Foster for his positive test for Roxadustat (FG-4592), a blood doping agent. Foster did not participate in the appeal despite having the opportunity and being encouraged to do so.
Foster, 29, tested positive for Roxadustat as the result of a sample collected at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials on July 20, 2024. An expedited hearing before an independent arbitrator resulted in the initial decision and took place before the 2024 Paralympic Summer Games. Foster ultimately did not compete in the Games.
Roxadustat is a non–Specified Substance in the class of Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics. It 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 Paralympic Committee Anti-Doping Code, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Foster’s four-year period of ineligibility went into effect on October 8, 2026, the date the CAS decision was issued. He will receive credit for the time he served under provisional suspension from July 26, 2024 to August 3, 2024, before the initial decision was issued. However, Foster notified USADA of his intent to retire on May 12, 2025. His period of ineligibility will therefore remain in effect indefinitely unless he returns from retirement, makes himself available for testing, and serves the remainder of his sanction. In addition, Foster has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and after July 20, 2024 including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
The CAS award, as well as other arbitral decisions, can be found here.
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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