It’s guaranteed that we all can look forward to lots of developments involved at the anti-doping rule violation of Andrew Starykowicz. Starykowicz was suspended by Ironman for 13 months for failing a drug test at Ironman Florida last year. After lots of comments from Starykowicz himself and yesterday the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), now also Ironman reacts with powerful statements, accusing involved parties for ‘false and misleading statements’.
“Ironman has been a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code Signatory since 2005, and as such Ironman is obligated its Anti-Doping Program in compliance with the WADA Code like other private and public WADA Code Signatory’s. Ironman is committed to complying with its obligations as a WADA Code Signatory by applying the anti-doping rules as written and has done so without exception. As required by the WADA Code (Article 14), Ironman provides designated anti-doping organizations notice of the assertion of all anti-doping rule violation and updates as cases progress. Nothing in Ironman’s process is independent of oversight from other Anti-Doping Organizations.”
“The intentional use of a ‘Specified Substance’ results in an anti-doping rule violation with a starting period of ineligibility of four-years under Article 10.2 of the WADA Code. The term ‘intentional’ applies when ‘the athlete or other person engaged in conduct which he or she knew constituted an anti-doping rule violation or knew that there was a significant risk that the conduct might constitute or result in an anti-doping rule violation and manifestly disregarded that risk. Unlike other cases, Starykowicz intentionally elected to compete while knowingly using a prohibited substance, and manifestly disregarded the risk that his Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) application would be declined. Despite a written warning from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on October 25, 2019 stating, ‘If the TUE is not granted by the start of your competition, you will be committing an anti-doping rule violation by competing without an approved TUE for a prohibited substance’, Starykowicz made the decision to race in two Ironman events without an approved TUE.”
