CNN
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Cyclist Kateřina Nash has averted a four-year ban after the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) linked her optimistic drug take a look at with treatment she had been administering to her dog.
Nash, who has represented the Czech Republic in mountain biking and cross-country snowboarding on the Summer and Winter Olympics, examined optimistic for the urge for food stimulant capromorelin in an out-of-competition take a look at final October.
According to USADA, capromorelin isn’t particularly listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s checklist of prohibited substances however is taken into account a “non-specified substance” within the class of peptide hormones, development components, associated substances and mimetics.
It is prohibited always below USADA and International Cycling Union (UCI) guidelines.
However, a USADA investigation into Nash’s case discovered that the 45-year-old had change into contaminated with capromorelin whereas giving her dog prescription treatment.
“She was administering the medication orally to her dog each day during the final weeks of her pet’s life in an effort to maintain weight,” USADA stated in a statement on Thursday.
“Due to the problem of administering oral pet treatment, Nash would incessantly come into contact with the liquid treatment by way of her palms, and the treatment bottle didn’t warn customers concerning the danger of contamination from transdermal publicity.
“USADA, together with laboratory experts, conducted a study of transdermal exposure using the same pet medication containing capromorelin, which established that coming into direct contact with the pet medication would cause a positive test.”
It means Nash will not face a interval of ineligibility, USADA added. In a press release on Thursday, the UCI said it “takes note” of USADA’s resolution that Nash “bears no fault or negligence” in relation to the optimistic take a look at.
Nash has a complete of eight World Cup wins in mountain biking and cyclocross and most not too long ago competed on the highway race world championships in Australia final September.
In an Instagram put up in October, she stated that her dog, Rubi, had tumors on her liver and spleen and was consuming with the assistance of stimulant capsules.
“It’s devastating to think that, like, not washing my hands could ruin my entire career, being an athlete for 30 years,” Nash told The Associated Press.
“But there’s no regrets. I would not have cared for my dog in any different way. But in the end, I was touching this medicine every day for about three straight weeks.”
Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA, stated the group will “always work as hard to try to exonerate the truly innocent as we do to convict those who intentionally cheat.”