Topic: News: Jason Kristal Suspended by USADA

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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U.S. Weightlifter Jason Kristal Receives Suspension by U.S. Anti-Doping Agency

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Jason Kristal of Petaluma, Calif., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, accepted a two-year suspension for refusing to take part in a USADA out-of-competition test on February 9, 2007 in San Rafael.

Kristal, 27, accepted the two-year suspension under the USADA Protocol and the rules of the International Weightlifting Federation, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code.  USA Weightlifting, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, will carry out the two-year sanction beginning February 16, 2007, the date Kristal began serving a provisional suspension.

At the time of the attempted test, Kristal believed he had retired from the sport of weightlifting but had not provided proper written notice of his retirement.  Subsequent to the attempted test, Kristal did properly retire from the sport of weightlifting.

USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.  USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.