Yahoo Finance Swiss sprinter out of Tokyo Olympics after doping suspension reinstated
Swiss sprinter Alex Wilson will miss the rest of the Tokyo Olympics after his provisional suspension for doping was reinstated.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decided to reinstate Wilson’s ban on July 27, despite his claims that the finding was due to eating contaminated beef at a Jamaican restaurant in Las Vegas. The suspension takes place with immediate effect, so Wilson will not be able to compete in this year’s 100m and 200m events.
Wilson initially tested positive for the steroid trenbolone, which promotes muscle growth, in March. He was provisionally suspended in late April before Swiss Olympic, the country’s national Olympic committee, lifted the ban in July. That decision was appealed by World Athletics, leading to CAS reinstating Wilson’s provisional suspension.
Wilson, who was born in Jamaica, won bronze in the 200m at the 2018 European Championships and is ranked 11th in the world at the distance.
Concluding its judgement, CAS said Wilson had not satisfied the judging panel that the trenbolone had indeed come from contaminated meat in the way he described.
CAS said: ‘The evidence available so far clearly shows that the provisional suspension imposed on the Athlete should not have been lifted by the Disciplinary Chamber… ‘thus, the mandatory provisional suspension shall be reinstated with immediate effect.’
In response to the judgement, Swiss Olympic said in a statement that it ‘very much regrets this case and would be very disappointed if the offence was confirmed.’
Nonetheless, it said, ‘international and national sports associations must not compromise when it comes to preventing doping. Swiss Olympic is convinced that the fight against doping must be conducted with all consistency.’
Wilson is not the only Swiss athlete to be reprimanded for doping recently. Last week former European 400m hurdles champion Kariem Hussein was given a nine-month ban after he tested positive for a banned stimulant.
The 32-year-old athlete responded to the judgement in a tweet, which read: ‘My dream of the Olympic Games in Tokyo is over. I was banned for 9 months. One lozenge (Gly-Coramin) contained an illegal substance. I made a mistake with grave consequences. I'm so sorry. But anyone who knows me knows that I will continue.’
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