The case involves Sigfus Fossdal, an Icelandic powerlifter who appealed a doping violation decision by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Fossdal tested positive for stanozolol, a prohibited anabolic steroid, during the 2014 World Open Powerlifting Championships. The IPF imposed a two-year suspension, nullifying his results from the event. Fossdal argued that he unknowingly ingested the substance through a contaminated supplement, specifically a pre-workout drink borrowed from a fellow athlete, Jon Por Asgrimsson. He claimed the supplement had been tampered with without his knowledge and sought to have his suspension reduced or eliminated, citing no fault or negligence on his part.
The CAS proceedings were conducted by a sole arbitrator based on written submissions, as Fossdal cited limited financial resources for not requesting an oral hearing. The IPF maintained that Fossdal failed to prove how the prohibited substance entered his system, as required by anti-doping regulations, and questioned the credibility of his explanations and supporting evidence, including witness statements from Asgrimsson and Birgir Sverrisson from Iceland’s Anti-Doping. The arbitrator noted that high-level athletes must avoid consuming unverified products and that gross negligence disqualifies an athlete from benefiting from a reduced suspension.
The arbitrator upheld the IPF’s decision, emphasizing that Fossdal did not meet the burden of proof to establish the source of the prohibited substance or demonstrate his lack of fault or negligence. The two-year suspension remained in place, reinforcing the strict liability principle in anti-doping regulations, which holds athletes responsible for any prohibited substances in their system regardless of intent. The arbitrator found Fossdal’s explanation implausible, citing inconsistencies in the evidence and his failure to verify the supplement’s contents. While Fossdal expressed remorse and highlighted his clean record, the arbitrator ruled that his actions constituted gross negligence, particularly given his experience as a competitive athlete.
The case underscores the stringent requirements athletes face when contesting doping violations and the high evidentiary standards needed to reduce sanctions. It also highlights the challenges of proving unintentional ingestion and the importance of athletes exercising extreme caution with supplements. The decision reaffirms the zero-tolerance approach to doping in sports and the responsibility of athletes to ensure the safety of any substances they consume. The ruling dismissed Fossdal’s appeal, confirming the two-year suspension from December 2014 to December 2016, and denied all other requests for relief.