The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned Para athletics athlete Gabriel Jose Garcia Monsalve of Venezuela for a period of three years for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), in breach of the IPC Anti-Doping Code.
The Venezuelan athlete returned adverse analytical findings (AAFs) for a prohibited substance in a urine sample provided out-of-competition on 2 June 2023 at the Bogota 2023 Youth Parapan American Games. The test was conducted by the Asian Paralympic Committee (AsPC), which acted as the testing authority on behalf of the Americas Paralympic Committee (AmPC) in its role as the Major Event Organisation for the Bogota 2023 Youth Parapan American Games.
The prohibited substance was boldenone metabolites. Boldenone (and its metabolites) is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2023 Prohibited List under the class S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS). It is a non-Specified Substance for the purposes of the Code.
The AsPC, also assumed responsibility for results management in the athlete’s case, in accordance with the AsPC Anti-Doping Rules. In its role as results management authority, the AsPC had to determine whether the athlete had committed an ADRV and the disqualification of any results pursuant to the AsPC Anti-Doping Rules.
The athlete was provisionally suspended by the AsPC on 26 September 2023 pending a resolution of his case.
On 31 March 2024, the AsPC issued a reasoned decision confirming that the athlete had committed an ADRV and disqualifying all the athlete’s results from the Bogota 2023 Youth Parapan American Games, together with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of all related medals, points and prizes.
Following this, the matter was transferred to the IPC as the international federation for the athlete’s sport (Para athletics) – to determine any further applicable consequences for the athlete, including any period of ineligibility as per the terms of the Code.
The athlete accepted the consequences proposed by the IPC in resolution of his case. As a result of his violation, the athlete will be ineligible for competition and other sporting activities (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes) for three years from 26 September 2023 until 25 September 2026.
All results obtained by the athlete from the date the athlete’s sample was collected (2 June 2023) until the commencement of Provisional Suspension (26 September 2023) were disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.
Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in their sample. An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in their sample, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.
As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (the WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC has established the IPC Anti-Doping Code in compliance with the general principles of the WADC, including the WADC International Standards, expecting that, in the spirit of sport, it will lead the fight against doping in sport for athletes with an impairment.
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