Four powerlifters suspended after anti-doping rule violations

Germany, July 31, 2013: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that four power lifters – Nigeria’s Ivory Nwokorie, Iraq’s Huda Ali and two Moldovan athletes Stefan Rosca and Verginiu Arapu – have committed anti-doping rule violations.

Each athlete has been suspended for two years and fined EUR 1,500. All results obtained on the date of their positive tests and onwards have been disqualified, with all the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points, records and prizes.

Ivory Nwokorie tested positive on 23 February 2013 at the 5th Fazaa International Powerlifting Competition event in Dubai, UAE for Furosemide, a substance that is classified under S5. Diuretics and Masking Agents on the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) 2013 Prohibited List. It is prohibited both in and out of competition. As a result of her violation she will be ineligible from competition from 19 April 2013 (date of notification) until 18 April 2015.

Huda Ali returned an averse analytical finding for nandrolone metabolites 19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone after competing on 26 May 2013 at the IPC Powerlifting Open European Championships in Aleksin, Russia. This substance is classified under S1A. Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids on the WADC 2013 Prohibited List and is prohibited both in and out of competition. As a result of the violation, she will be ineligible from all competition from 12 June 2013 (date of notification) until 11 June 2015.

On 25 May 2013 after competing at the IPC Powerlifting Open European Championships, Stefan Rosca returned an adverse analytical finding for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone metabolite 18-nor-17b-hydroxymethyl-17amethyl-4-chloro-5b-androst-13-en-3a-ol. This substance is classified under S1A. Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids on the WADC 2013 Prohibited List and is prohibited both in and out of competition. Rosca will be ineligible from competition from 12 June 2013 (date of notification) until 11 June 2015.

Verginiu Arapu returned an adverse analytical finding after competing at the IPC Powerlifting Open European Championships on 25 May 2013. His sample was found to have dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone metabolite 18-nor-17b-hydroxymethyl-17amethyl-4-chloro-5b-androst-13-en-3a-ol, a substance classified under S1A. Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids on the WADC 2013 Prohibited List and is prohibited both in-competition and out-of-competition. He will be ineligible from competition from 12 June 2013 (date of notification) until 11 June 2015.

The principle of strict liability applies to anti-doping matters. Therefore, each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample, and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her 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 WADC, the IPC remains committed to a doping free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC, together with the International Federations and the National Paralympic Committees, established the IPC Anti-Doping Code to prevent doping in sport for Paralympic athletes, in the spirit of fair play. The IPC Anti-Doping Code is in conformity with the general principles of the WADC.