IPC refers anti-doping rule violation involving Cuban athlete Mijarez to IBSA

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has referred an anti-doping rule violation case involving Cuban Para judoka Yonaldy Gonzalez Mijarez related to the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games to the International Blind Sport Federation (IBSA).

In its role as major event organiser of the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, the IPC was responsible for the Games testing programme.

Mjijarez returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Prohibited Substance in a urine sample provided out-of-competition on 16 November 2023 as part of the pre-Games testing programme.

The prohibited substance was Dorzolamide which is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2023 Prohibited List under the class S5 - Diuretics and Masking Agents.

The athlete stated that he had not intentionally consumed Dorzolamide. He identified the source of the AAF as unintentional ingestion through contact with a family member who had consumed Dorzolamide for medical reasons. 

The administration of Dorzolamide through any non-permitted route (including that identified by the athlete) is considered as an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) for the purposes of the Code. As a result, the IPC has now referred the case to IBSA, the international federation for Para judo, to determine any further applicable consequences for the athlete, including any period of ineligibility.

As a result of his violation, the athlete’s individual results obtained at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games shall be disqualified, together with all resulting consequences (including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes), unless the athlete establishes that he bears No Fault or Negligence for the ADRV following conclusion of his case with IBSA. 

Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in their sample. An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in their bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault. 

As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (the WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC has established the IPC Anti-Doping Code in compliance with the general principles of the WADC, including the WADC International Standards, expecting that, in the spirit of sport, it will lead the fight against doping in sport for athletes with an impairment.