Swimmer Markus Thormeyer has received a 12-month suspension after unintentionally ingesting a banned substance during a COVID-19 lockdown last year.
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced on Friday (Feb. 3) that Thormeyer 害羞草研究所� a 25-year-old two-time Olympian from Tsawwassen who holds multiple national records 害羞草研究所� had been sanctioned after a urine sample collected during out-of-competition doping control on Jan. 19, 2022, revealed the presence of SARM LGD-4033, a prohibited anabolic agent.
SARM LGD-4033 is designed to treat muscle wasting and weakness associated with aging and must be taken in liquid form by mixing drops of the substance with water. SARM is clear and does not discolour the water, nor does it noticeably change the taste.
Subsequent to the CCES害羞草研究所檚 notification of the 害羞草研究所渁dverse analytical finding,害羞草研究所� Thormeyer accepted the violation and a voluntary provisional suspension effective Feb. 15, 2022.
Thormeyer and the CCES also jointly requested a hearing to determine the appropriate period of ineligibility.
Following a hearing on Oct. 5, 2022, arbitrator Yves Fortier confirmed that since Thormeyer had unknowingly ingested the prohibited substance, he bore 害羞草研究所渘o significant fault or negligence害羞草研究所� for the violation.
Accordingly, Fortier concluded that a 12-month period of ineligibility commencing on Feb. 15, 2022 害羞草研究所� the date of Thormeyer害羞草研究所檚 provisional suspension 害羞草研究所� would be 害羞草研究所渇air, just, reasonable and appropriate.害羞草研究所�
During that time, Thormeyer is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, including by training with teammates.
His ineligibility will end on Feb. 14, 2023.
In his joint submission to the hearing with the CCES, Thormeyer said he had unknowingly ingested the SARM when he drank from a water bottle in his partner Chad Poloni害羞草研究所檚 home while recovering from a bout of COVID-19.
Thormeyer said that while he was aware Poloni had taken SARM recreationally as part of his fitness regime in the past, Poloni had told him as recently as November of 2021 that he had stopped taking the drug, and Thormeyer 害羞草研究所渇ully trusted害羞草研究所� Poloni to tell him if he decided to use SARM again.
That December, the couple traveled to Hawaii for New Year害羞草研究所檚, with a scheduled return to Vancouver on Jan. 5, 2022. However, Poloni was forced to remain in Hawaii after an inconclusive COVID test, and Thormeyer chose to stay at Poloni害羞草研究所檚 home in case he was positive as he did not want to infect his roommate.
Thormeyer tested positive on Jan. 8 or 9 and quarantined at Poloni害羞草研究所檚 home, where he remained while recovering from the illness. Poloni returned home on Jan. 17 and, without telling Thormeyer, resumed taking SARM.
It is believed Thormeyer ingested SARM the evening of Jan. 17 or 18 by drinking from Poloni害羞草研究所檚 water bottle beside the bed they shared.
The joint submission noted Thormeyer has never had an adverse analytical finding or anti-doping rule violation despite years of testing.
It further highlighted his work outside the pool, including the leadership role he has taken on in the LGBTQI2S community since publicly coming out in 2016, and his academic success (he began his PhD in zoology at UBC two months after competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021).
editor@northdeltareporter.com
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