Iranian Power lifter to miss Paralympic Games due to Anti-Doping Rule Violation

Bonn-Germany, April 30, 2012: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that the Iranian Power lifter Seyed Yousef Yousefi Pashaki has been suspended for two years for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. Yousefi Pashaki returned an adverse analytical finding for Methylhexaneamine in a urine sample provided on 5 February 2012 during the Malaysia Open Power lifting Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

This substance is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2012 Prohibited List as S6b. Specified Stimulants and is consequently prohibited under the IPC Anti-Doping Code. Yousefi Pashaki exercised his right to a hearing, during which he explained that prior to the competition he had taken a supplement “Jack3d” and was not aware it contained a banned substance.

In accordance with the IPC Anti-Doping Code, Yousefi Pashaki will serve a two year suspension for the offense beginning on 29 February 2012; the date from which he was notified of his Anti-Doping Rule Violation. All results obtained from the date of the competition on 5 February 2012 and onwards, will be disqualified with all the resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes. A financial sanction of? 1,500 were also imposed on the athlete.

Yousefi Pashaki has had his qualification slot for the London 2012 Paralympic Games revoked and therefore will not be able to compete at the Games. The slot will now be reallocated to the next athlete in the Minimum Qualifying Standard list for London 2012 taking into full consideration the Qualification Criteria for the Games.

The IPC would like to highlight the risk of supplement use and remind athletes that they are strictly liable for the substances found in their samples.

As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (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.

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