Natasha Rosa Figueiredo cleared for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Admin l Friday, July 23, 2021

LAUSANNE – The Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) has held that the Brazilian weightlifter Natasha Rosa Figueiredo has served the mandatory one month suspension imposed on him for anti-doping rule violation and therefore qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

On 31 March 2021, the Athlete underwent an out of competition anti-doping control which returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for hydrochlorothiazide and metabolite chlorominophenamide, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) at all times. On 7 May 2021, the Athlete was notified by the International Testing Agency (ITA) of the First AAF and a provisional suspension was imposed on her with immediate effect.

On 20 April 2021, the Athlete underwent an in-competition doping control which also which returned an AAF for hydrochlorothiazide (the Second AAF). Analysis of the food supplements consumed regularly by the Athlete conducted by a WADA-accredited laboratory revealed the presence of hydrochlorothiazide, despite the supplement labels containing no indication of any prohibited substance.

On 1 July 2021, the ITA lifted the Athlete’s provisional suspension and referred the matter to the CAS  ADD on 9 July 2021 for a final determination on the merits. In view of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the parties requested that a decision be rendered prior to the commencement of the Games on 23 July 2021.

The CAS ADD procedure was conducted by Mr Patrice Brunet (Canada) sitting as a Sole Arbitrator. A hearing was held with the parties by video-conference on 20 July 2021.  It was common ground between the parties that non-intentional Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) had occurred; that both ADRVs should be jointly considered as a single ADRV; that the source of the AAFs was the contaminated supplement and that the Athlete was eligible to receive a reduction of the applicable period of ineligibility.

Considering all the circumstances, including the fact that the Athlete had failed to list the food supplement on her doping control forms, the Sole Arbitrator concluded that a minor ADRV had been established and determined that the Athlete be suspended for one (1) month. In view of the fact that the Athlete already served a period of provisional suspension from 7 May 2021 until 1 July 2021, she has completed her period of ineligibility.