The case involves Bulgarian judoka Denislav Dimitrov Ivanov, who appealed a decision by the International Judo Federation (IJF) regarding an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV). During the European Junior Judo Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, on September 15, 2017, Ivanov tested positive for GW1516, a prohibited metabolic modulator listed under the 2017 WADA Prohibited List. The IJF provisionally suspended him on October 15, 2017, and later imposed a four-year ineligibility period, disqualifying his results and forfeiting medals, points, and prize money. Ivanov appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), contesting the IJF’s decision. The case was assigned to a sole arbitrator, Prof. Jens Evald, after the IJF failed to respond to the CAS inquiry regarding arbitrator appointment. Both parties agreed to resolve the matter through written submissions without a hearing.
Ivanov argued that the presence of GW1516 was unintentional, possibly due to contaminated medications, dietary supplements, or a protein drink from a fitness center. He cited scientific literature suggesting trace amounts could result from incidental intake. However, the IJF countered that GW1516 is not found in approved medications and poses severe health risks, emphasizing Ivanov’s failure to prove the substance’s origin. The sole arbitrator dismissed Ivanov’s requests for expert testimony, stating that the presence of the prohibited substance was undisputed and that speculation about contamination was insufficient to establish unintentional use. Under the IJF Anti-Doping Rules, the burden of proving an ADRV was unintentional lies with the athlete, who must demonstrate how the substance entered their body based on the balance of probabilities. The arbitrator found Ivanov’s explanations lacked credible evidence and upheld the IJF’s decision, confirming the four-year ineligibility period and disqualification of results.
The ruling reinforced the strict liability principle in anti-doping regulations, where athletes are responsible for any prohibited substances in their system, regardless of intent. It highlighted the high evidentiary standard required to prove unintentional violations and the limited scope for leniency without substantiated proof. The CAS affirmed its jurisdiction and the admissibility of the appeal, applying the 2017 IJF Anti-Doping Rules and Swiss law for procedural aspects. The decision underscored the importance of maintaining fairness and integrity in sports by deterring doping violations. Ivanov’s competitive results between September 15, 2017, and October 15, 2017, were disqualified, including forfeiture of titles, awards, medals, and prizes. The case concluded with no further penalties, emphasizing the consequences of violating anti-doping rules and the rigorous standards applied in such adjudications.