The Disciplinary Chamber of Swiss Sport (DC) sentenced sprinter Alex Wilson for deliberate doping with trenbolone to a 4-year suspension and to a payment of 13,750 Swiss francs.
The decision is based on an out-of-competition doping control conducted by Swiss Sport Integrity on March 15, 2021. A metabolite of trenbolone was detected in the athlete's urine sample, making the sample positive. Trenbolone is an anabolic androgenic steroid, or in simple terms, a powerful muscle-building hormone. Trenbolone, including its metabolites, is prohibited at all times according to the Prohibited list, i.e. both in-competition and out-of-competition.
On April 28, 2021, Swiss Sport Integrity issued a provisional suspension against the Swiss athlete. The athlete then claimed that his positive doping sample must have resulted from the consumption of a large amount of contaminated meat in Las Vegas. As a result, the DC lifted the suspension on May 18, 2021. The World Anti-Doping Agency and World Athletics, with the active support of Swiss Sport Integrity, appealed to the ad hoc chamber of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The latter reinstated Mr. Wilson's provisional suspension on July 27, 2021, shortly before his scheduled participation in the Summer Olympics of Tokyo. In its award, the CAS concluded that the athlete had not been able to show that his positive doping sample was due to the consumption of contaminated meat.
Since the CAS decision, the athlete who tested positive claimed that he had been the victim of an act of sabotage. Swiss Sport Integrity showed, however, that such a scenario could not be credibly proven.
After completion of the relevant investigations, Swiss Sport Integrity requested the opening of ordinary disciplinary proceedings. The DC came to the conclusion that Alex Wilson had intentionally used the substance trenbolone for doping purposes and sentenced him to a 4-year suspension, taking into account the provisional suspension of April 28, 2021. In addition, the convicted athlete has to pay a fine, procedural costs as well as a party compensation to Swiss Sport Integrity in the total amount of 13,750 Swiss francs. The decision is not yet legally binding. The parties involved may appeal to the CAS within 21 days after written notification of the reasoned decision. The World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Federation may also appeal the decision to the CAS.
Swiss Sport Integrity reminds all athletes that they must bear full responsibility in the event of an anti-doping rule violation, including all consequences arising in addition to the actual sanctions. Such consequences include, on the one hand, the annulment of all results from the time of a positive doping test with the associated forfeiture of medals and points as well as the reclaiming of prize money, and, on the other hand, the assumption of the costs of the proceedings as well as the party costs incurred.