The case involves an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) committed by British sprinter Chijindu Ujah during the Tokyo Olympics, adjudicated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Ujah tested positive for prohibited substances, SARMS enobosarm (ostarine) and SARMS S-23, which are classified as non-specified anabolic agents banned under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC). The presence of these substances was confirmed in both his A and B samples, establishing the violation under Article 2.1 of the IOC Anti-Doping Rules (ADR). Ujah competed in the 100m sprint and the 4x100m relay, where his team won a silver medal. Following the relay final on August 6, 2021, he underwent doping control, and the adverse analytical finding (AAF) was reported on August 8. The International Testing Agency (ITA), acting on behalf of the IOC, notified Ujah of the violation on August 12, and the case was referred to the CAS Anti-Doping Division (ADD) for adjudication.
The sole arbitrator, Susan Ahern, confirmed the ADRV based on the presence of prohibited substances in Ujah’s samples. Under the strict liability principle, athletes are responsible for any banned substances in their bodies, regardless of intent. Consequently, Ujah’s relay team was automatically disqualified, resulting in the forfeiture of their silver medal, titles, awards, and prize money. The case also addressed whether Ujah’s individual 100m results should be disqualified. While Ujah argued the violation was unintentional due to a contaminated supplement and sought to preserve his individual results, the IOC insisted on full disqualification to uphold the integrity of the Games. The arbitrator ruled to disqualify both his relay and individual results, emphasizing the seriousness of the violation and the need for consistent enforcement of anti-doping rules.
The decision highlights the procedural framework for handling doping violations during major events, involving the IOC, ITA, and CAS. The CAS ADD’s jurisdiction was limited to consequences related to the Tokyo Olympics, with further sanctions to be determined by World Athletics. The ruling underscores the far-reaching impact of doping violations, affecting not only the individual athlete but also their teammates and competitive outcomes. The case reaffirms the strict liability principle and the rigorous enforcement of anti-doping regulations to maintain fairness and integrity in sports. The final decision may be appealed within 21 days under CAS Appeals Arbitration Division procedures.