New trends in anti-doping rule violations emerge, Lithuanian athletes warned

Recently, an increasing number of athletes have been disqualified or threatened with disqualification as a result of whereabouts-related anti-doping rule violations. Christian Coleman, world champion in the 100 metres, has already been sanctioned and will have to miss the Tokyo Olympics. The list of disqualified athletes may soon be expanded to include other prominent names.

These infringements are also recorded in Lithuania. Dozens of warnings have already been issued to our athletes. Olympic champion Rūta Meilutyte has been disqualified for this type of violation.

"In Lithuania, we have only one case so far where an athlete has been disqualified due to location-related infringements. The International Swimming Federation FINA has imposed a 2-year disqualification on R. Meilutyte for three violations. We would like to warn Lithuanian athletes that there is a growing trend and scale of such violations. This is why anti-doping agencies take a very strict approach to repeated violations or malignant cases of fraud," said Rūta Banytė, Director of the Lithuanian Anti-Doping Agency.

Athletes can be tested both in and out of competition. During the competition, doping control officers will arrive at the competition and select athletes for testing according to the relevant criteria. However, it shall be possible to test Athletes outside the competition so that Doping Control Officers can take the Athlete's Sample without prior notice. Athletes on the list of registered Athletes to be tested shall be required to provide their location in the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System ADAMS.

"Athletes are required to indicate in ADAMS the location and times of their residence, training, camps and competitions. They must indicate one hour a day, from 5am to 11pm, where and when doping control officers will be able to find the athlete for testing. If the Doping Control Officers do not find the Athlete at the place indicated in the system during that hour, a warning shall be issued for a missed doping control test. If 3 warnings are issued within a 12-month period, the athlete faces up to 2 years of disqualification. Warnings may also be issued for failure to provide updated information on time or for incorrect data. Of course, athletes have the right to submit an explanation for a missed test or failure to update information on time to ADAMS before warnings are issued. Only after all the information provided has been considered, a decision is made whether or not to issue a warning", explains Banytė.

In 2020, as many as 27 warnings were issued to Lithuanian athletes. Of these, 26 were issued for missing tests and one for failing to submit information to ADAMS on time.

"There are several athletes who already have two warnings. We hope that the athletes will take a very responsible approach to completing and updating ADAMS and will not receive any more warnings. Most of the time athletes say that they simply forgot to update their ADAMS. However, forgetting is not a valid reason for missing a doping control test. Warnings are issued for this. Of course, there are cases where the missed test was not due to the athlete's fault or negligence. In such cases, no warnings shall be issued. It is unfortunate, but there have also been cases where athletes have tried to cheat and have provided false or falsified information about the circumstances which prevented the athlete from renewing the ADAMS or from being present at the designated place," said the Anti-Doping Agency Director.

In the updated World Anti-Doping Code for 2021, such fraud is punishable by disqualification for up to 4 years.

"Most Lithuanian athletes are very cooperative and admit they simply forgot to update ADAMS. These are human mistakes, which is why there is no sanction for one missed test. However, if the violations are repeated 3 times in 12 months, or even if there is a deliberate attempt to mislead the Doping Control Officers by changing one's location in ADAMS at the last minute, then not only 3 warnings, but also the avoidance of Doping Control, can result in a sanction. In Lithuania, some sports federations are also of great help to athletes by reminding them of the importance of updating their ADAMS information whenever possible to help athletes avoid mistakes and sanctions," says R. Banytė.

The disqualification of track and field star Ch. Coleman has been widely publicised in the world of sport. The 100 metres world champion was given an 18-month disqualification for location-related offences. Coleman, who won two gold medals at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, will be forced to miss the Tokyo Olympics. He is disqualified until 13 May 2022.

The fate of another athletics star will be decided soon. Salwa Eid Naser, the 400 metres World Champion for Bahrain, also committed a location-related offence and received a 2-year disqualification. Her case is currently pending before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport.