The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) issued a consent award on September 6, 2022, resolving an anti-doping case between the International Skating Union (ISU) and Spanish pairs skater Laura Barquero Jimenez. The case stemmed from Barquero’s positive test for clostebol metabolite, a prohibited substance under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Her urine sample, collected on February 18, 2022, revealed the presence of the banned substance, leading to a provisional suspension by the ISU. The analysis of her B-sample confirmed the adverse finding, and Barquero ultimately acknowledged the violation. The case proceeded under the IOC Anti-Doping Rules, with the ISU joining the proceedings.
The parties reached a settlement agreement, which was reviewed by the sole arbitrator, Raphaëlle Favre Schnyder, to ensure compliance with legal standards and fairness. The ISU accepted that Barquero could establish the anti-doping rule violation as unintentional, reducing the standard four-year ineligibility period to two years. However, the ISU rejected her claim of "No Fault or Negligence," arguing her failure to verify the contents of a cream she used constituted negligence. Instead, the ISU accepted "No Significant Fault or Negligence," further reducing the sanction to one year. Barquero’s arguments about her age and lack of experience were dismissed, as she was deemed a senior elite athlete responsible for her anti-doping obligations.
The settlement imposed a one-year ineligibility period starting from February 22, 2022, with credit given for the provisional suspension served, ending on February 21, 2023. Both parties agreed to bear their own costs, and the settlement was formalized under Swiss law, enforceable under CAS jurisdiction. The arbitrator ratified the agreement, issuing a consent award to conclude the case. The decision can be appealed within 21 days of notification, but the settlement serves as a full and final resolution of the dispute. This case highlights CAS’s role in enforcing anti-doping regulations and facilitating settlements while upholding legal integrity and fairness. The arbitrator’s approval ensured the agreement’s enforceability, bringing the matter to a close without further proceedings.