Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges the decision of the Australian Karate Federation to impose a two-year ban on athlete Athan Dritsas for the presence of a prohibited substance and its metabolite and the use of a prohibited substance.
Mr Dritsas returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an In-Competition doping control test during the Australian Karate Championships on 17 April 2021.
His sample was analysed at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, part of the National Measurement Institute, which detected the presence of Anastrozole and its metabolite OH-Anastrozole.
It was also determined that on/and or before 17 April 2021, Mr Dritsas Used a Prohibited Substance, namely Anastrozole.
Under Article 10.2.1 of the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021 (ANADP), the base sanction is four-years ineligibility if it is established by Sport Integrity Australia that the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV) were intentional. If Sport Integrity Australia cannot establish that ADRVs were intentional, the period of Ineligibility is two (2) years under Article 10.2.2 of the ANADP.
It was determined that the ADRVs were not intentional.
The Australian Karate Federation imposed a two-year ban on Mr Dritsas commencing on 17 April 2021.
Mr Dritsas was ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 16 April 2023.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE
The substance Anastrozole is a class S4.1 substance under the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List 2021. Anastrozole is classified as a Specified Substance and is prohibited at all times.
Anastrozole is a hormone and metabolic modulator prescribed to treat early breast cancer.
As the use of hormone and metabolic modulators interferes with the normal functioning nature of hormones, the endocrine system that controls these hormones is significantly impacted. This interferes can therefore increases the risk of severe illnesses.
