Topic: News: USA Weightlifter Jenny Sawyer Accepts Sanction for Doping Violation

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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USA Weightlifter Jenny Sawyer Accepts Sanction for Doping Violation

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 2, 2007)
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Jenny Sawyer of Mattoon, Ill., an athlete in the sport of weightlifting, tested positive for a prohibited substance and accepted a one-year suspension for her first doping offense.

Sawyer, then 14, tested positive for methylphenidate May 12, 2007 at the USA Weightlifting National Championships in Schaumburg, Ill. Methylphenidate is a prohibited substance in the class of stimulants under the rules of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) and USADA, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

Although methylphenidate is a prohibited substance under the applicable rules, an athlete who provides documentation in advance of competition, confirming the diagnosis of a valid medical need for methylphenidate, may receive an exemption allowing the use of the substance. Sawyer’s doping offense involved the use of a prescribed medication but without first seeking a therapeutic use exemption as required by the applicable rules.

Sawyer’s one-year sanction begins on May 26, 2007. Additionally, Sawyer forfeits all competitive results obtained on or subsequent to May 12, 2007. USA Weightlifting, the national governing body for the sport in the United States, will carry out the sanction.

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.

[Matt Erdman]

"USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs."

What an education. It's bad enough the poor kid has to take Ritalin. Now she gets stomped on because of a technicality.

[John Bologna]

WADA/USADA do not care in the least about what is in the best interests on this young lady. They were not willing to publically admit their mistakes as part of the settlement that they reached with Chris. As I said because of this their abuses will continue because they will continue to to whatever they want whenever they want to do it. No questions will be allowed to be asked. No system of checks and balances will be allowed to be put in place. As long as they can continue to control the realm of public opinion. When I finished posting my reply to Chris's news  I scroll down the site to find this which only serves to back up my point that they are perfectly willing to be as public as possible in getting someone like this young lady's name up in lights for all the world to see. They continue to maintain that they are working for the greater good in order to assure fair competition... If they would stop thinking it is all about them and their pursuit of power...  They continue to insist on absolute power along with working to eliminate the right of appeal, the necessity for a B sample and lowering the burden of proof to the level of a non analytical positive being all that is necessary to declare a positive doping offense. While the issue of doping is one that needs to be addressed why has it been allowed to become what seems to be the primary focus to the exclusion of all else?

[Matt Erdman]

This case is a great example of our society's hypocrisy. The medical community is constantly pushing antidepressants and behavior modification drugs (and really any other new drug for anything). Now an athlete is being punished and labeled as a drug user.

If this case was pointed out. It would either be labeled a fluke, or the topic would shift to how wrong it is that a 14-15 year old is that high level of an athlete. Of course parents and coaches would be to blame. Anyone opposing drug testing practices would be viewed as some muscle-head with something to hide.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

It seems like a very excessive penalty to me. To go from one year suspension to none because of whether or not a form is turned in is pretty striking.