The Disciplinary Chamber for Doping Cases (DC) of Swiss Olympic has reduced the doping bans of two athletes in accordance with the so-called leniency rule.

An ambitious young cyclist was found to have taken and used prohibited anabolic steroids and breached a ban on competing. A five-year ban was imposed on the athlete as a result. However, this ban was reduced by two years as part of the so-called ‘leniency rule’. In another case, a successful martial arts competitor was found to have taken drostanolone. A standard four-year ban was imposed on the athlete. His ban was also curtailed by two years following information provided on third party involvement.

In the past, information provided by ‘key-witnesses’ has allowed those involved in doping deceit to be identified. A reduction or suspension of a doping ban is possible if a key witness provides significant assistance in uncovering or proving a doping violation or offence by another individual. This generally takes the form of information sharing with an anti-doping organisation or law enforcement agency.

Antidoping Switzerland treats all insider information in the strictest of confidence. The investigation department can be contacted at any time by telephone, email or web form (also anonymous).