The case involves an arbitration decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) between the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and Mohamed Trafeh, a professional distance runner. Trafeh, a Moroccan-born U.S. citizen and elite athlete, was found to have committed multiple anti-doping violations, including possession and use of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), a prohibited substance. The violations came to light after Trafeh was detained by U.S. authorities in February 2014 for attempting to smuggle six syringes of EPO into the country. Investigations revealed that Trafeh had purchased and used EPO multiple times since January 2012 to aid recovery and enhance performance. He also admitted to providing false whereabouts information to avoid testing. Initially, Trafeh agreed to cooperate with USADA by providing information about his doping activities and those of other athletes, which could have reduced his sanction. However, he later refused to cooperate fully, retired from competition, and publicly denied using EPO despite earlier admissions.
USADA charged Trafeh with multiple violations under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Anti-Doping Rules. A hearing was held in November 2014, but Trafeh chose not to participate or present evidence. The arbitrator found Trafeh guilty of several violations, including possession, use, and evasion of sample collection, based on circumstantial and non-analytical evidence. The arbitrator emphasized Trafeh's lack of cooperation and refusal to accept responsibility, which aggravated the case. Under the WADC, the period of ineligibility could only start earlier than the hearing decision date if there were substantial delays not attributable to the athlete. The arbitrator imposed a four-year period of ineligibility, effective from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2015, disqualifying Trafeh from all sporting events during that period and forfeiting any awards or benefits.
USADA appealed the decision to CAS, contesting the start date of the ineligibility period. The CAS Sole Arbitrator, Professor Matthew J. Mitten, reviewed the case based on written submissions, as Trafeh did not participate in the appeal process. The arbitrator determined that the original start date of January 1, 2012, was inconsistent with the WADC and IAAF ADR, which generally require the ineligibility period to begin on the date of the hearing decision unless specific exceptions apply. The arbitrator found no evidence of substantial delays attributable to USADA or a timely admission by Trafeh to justify an earlier start date. Consequently, the CAS amended the ineligibility period to run from December 2, 2014, to December 1, 2018, and upheld the disqualification of all competitive results from January 1, 2012.
The case underscores the strict enforcement of anti-doping regulations and the importance of procedural fairness in disciplinary actions. It highlights the consequences of non-compliance, including enhanced sanctions for aggravating circumstances such as deceptive conduct and refusal to cooperate. The decision reaffirms the CAS's role in ensuring consistency and adherence to the WADC and IAAF ADR, emphasizing that ineligibility periods must align with established rules unless justified by specific exceptions. The ruling serves as a reminder of the serious repercussions for athletes who engage in doping violations and fail to engage constructively in the disciplinary process.