The case involves Jamaican wrestler Angus Patrick Arthur, who committed an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) by testing positive for dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT), a prohibited substance, during the 2020 Pan American Championships. The adverse analytical finding (AAF) was confirmed by a WADA-accredited laboratory, leading United World Wrestling (UWW) to impose a provisional suspension. Arthur denied intentional doping and initially requested analysis of his B-sample and the laboratory documentation package (LDP) but later waived the B-sample analysis. UWW concluded that Arthur failed to prove a lack of intent, as the supplements he listed did not contain the prohibited substance, and no evidence linked them to other AAFs. The athlete cited challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, financial constraints, and lack of support from Jamaican authorities, but these arguments were dismissed as insufficient to counter the violation.
The case proceeded to the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD), where a sole arbitrator, Carol Roberts, ruled that the presence of the prohibited substance in the A-sample, combined with Arthur’s waiver of the B-sample analysis, established an ADRV under Article 2.1 of the UWW Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). The arbitrator emphasized the strict liability principle, holding athletes responsible for any prohibited substances in their samples regardless of intent. Arthur’s claims of unfair treatment due to delays in testing and procedural challenges were rejected, as pandemic-related delays were deemed excusable, and hearing delays were attributed to his own requests for extensions.
The arbitrator imposed a standard four-year ineligibility period, effective from the date of Arthur’s provisional suspension (18 June 2020), with credit given for time already served. All competitive results from the sample collection date (8 March 2020) until the suspension were disqualified, requiring Arthur to return his gold medal and forfeit awards. UWW also sought a fine against the Jamaica Wrestling Federation (JWF), but this was denied because JWF was not formally named as a respondent in the proceedings. The final decision upheld the ADRV and sanctions while dismissing other relief requests. The ruling underscores the importance of procedural fairness, the burden of proof on athletes to demonstrate unintentional violations, and the strict enforcement of anti-doping regulations. The award remains subject to appeal within 21 days under CAS rules.