Junior Taekwondo Athlete Receives Two-Year Suspension for Using Diuretic Prior to Competition

(Ottawa, Ontario – September 1, 2011) –   The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that Caroline Pyzik, a junior taekwondo athlete, has received a two-year sanction for an anti-doping rule violation. The violation resulted from a urine sample collected during in-competition doping control in January 2011, which revealed the presence of triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide, both of which are prohibited substances.

Banned in and out of competition, triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide are classified as S5 substances (Diuretic and Masking Agents) on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

In response to the CCES’ notification of the adverse analytical finding, Ms. Pyzik exercised her right to a hearing under the rules of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP).

Based on the evidence and testimony presented during a hearing on July 5 and August 11, 2011, Arbitrator Brunet concluded that Ms. Pyzik had committed an anti-doping rule violation and imposed a sanction of a two-year period of sport ineligibility.  In making his decision, Arbitrator Brunet determined that CADP Rules 7.44 and 7.45 (No Fault or Negligence and No Significant Fault or Negligence) did not apply to the case. In considering the documentary evidence and testimony, Arbitrator Brunet concluded that Caroline Pyzik had committed an anti‐doping rule violation under Rule 7.23 of CADP. In recognition of the athlete’s voluntary provisional suspension on March 30, 2011, the period of ineligibility will terminate on March 30, 2013.  A copy of the full decision can be found at www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca.

Ms. Pyzik asked  her trainer  Jimmy Gariépy a couple of weeks prior to competition whether there was a substance she could take to maintain her weight during her menstrual cycle that was safe and would not be considered a doping agent. Mr. Gariépy provided her with a pill a few days before the competition to help her remain in her desired weight category.

While the arbitrator determined that an anti-doping rule violation had been committed by Ms. Pyzik, Arbitrator Brunet also noted that: …”Nothing in the evidence suggests that clear and comprehensive doping information was provided, in French, to Caroline Pyzik in her new capacity as a junior athlete subject to doping controls. This shortfall is deeply disturbing as it will taint the record of this otherwise promising athlete.”

“This case clearly demonstrates that all of us in sport have a responsibility to better educate all of our athletes,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. “We need to introduce broad anti-doping education at all levels of sport, and that includes education for athlete support personnel.

“Before taking a substance either recommended or provided by athlete support personnel, athletes need to check that the substance is not on the WADA Prohibited List. They can call or email the CCES, or they can check the substance on the Global DRO at www.globaldro.com.”

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is an independent, national, not-for profit organization. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.

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