The case involves three Thai weightlifters—Chitchanok Pulsabsakul, Sukanya Srisurat, and Boonatee Klakasikit—who appealed sanctions imposed by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) after testing positive for the prohibited substance methandienone. The athletes claimed they unknowingly consumed a contaminated whey protein supplement provided by their coach, Mr. Um-On, between January and March 2011. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel examined whether the athletes' trust in their coach and their duty of care could justify a reduction in their sanctions. While the panel acknowledged that young athletes often place significant trust in their coaches, it emphasized that athletes cannot absolve themselves of responsibility by claiming ignorance of the substances they ingest. The panel noted that even young or less experienced athletes competing at national and international levels are expected to know anti-doping regulations and exercise minimal diligence in verifying supplements.
The IWF had imposed a four-year ineligibility period, double the standard two-year sanction under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. The panel found this to be a substantive change to Article 10 of the WADA Code, which requires signatories to adopt mandatory provisions without alteration. The IWF's extended sanction was deemed inconsistent with the WADA Code, as it not only increased the duration but also had harsher career implications for athletes. The panel concluded that the IWF's Anti-Doping Policy (ADP) was non-compliant with the WADA Code, reinforcing the need for harmonization in anti-doping regulations.
The athletes tested positive during competitions in 2011, with samples analyzed by WADA-accredited laboratories. They argued that the positive results stemmed from the contaminated supplement, but the IWF Doping Hearing Panel upheld the sanctions, stating the athletes failed to prove how the substance entered their systems. Expert testimonies from Dr. Laurent Rivier and Dr. Hans Geyer suggested that high doses of methandienone could remain detectable for months due to varying metabolite elimination rates, explaining discrepancies in test results between laboratories. However, the panel found the athletes' negligence, while not severe, was still present, as they did not demonstrate sufficient due diligence in verifying the supplements.
The panel ultimately ruled that the standard sanction for a first-time offense should be two years, as per the WADA Code, and reduced the athletes' ineligibility periods accordingly. The decision underscored the balance between athlete trust in coaches and their personal accountability under anti-doping regulations, while reinforcing the need for consistency with the WADA Code. The ineligibility periods were set to start from the date of sample collection for each athlete, with Pulsabsakul's beginning on 6 July 2011, Srisurat's on 12 May 2011, and Klakasikit's on 13 May 2011. The ruling highlighted the importance of protecting athletes' rights while maintaining the integrity of anti-doping efforts.