The Felipe Pena case in 2014: testosterone at Worlds and a one-year suspension
USADA accepted the explanation that the positive test came from a cream provided by a healthcare provider and reduced the sanction for the athlete’s assistance
Felipe Pena was suspended for one year for an anti-doping rule violation. The Brazilian black belt, then 23, tested positive for testosterone in an in-competition test at the IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship on June 1, 2014, in Long Beach, California. The result was confirmed by carbon isotope ratio analysis.
The explanation the agency accepted
After reviewing the case, USADA, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, accepted Pena’s explanation that the positive test was caused by a testosterone cream provided to him by a healthcare provider. According to the agency, he also provided substantial assistance, as defined in the World Anti-Doping Code, which allowed a reduction of the two-year sanction that applied to the case.
The sanction
The sanction was announced on May 26, 2015. The one-year suspension counted from June 1, 2014, the day the sample was collected. His results since May 31, 2014, the date of his first match at those Worlds, were disqualified, with forfeiture of medals, points and prizes. The IBJJF agreed to impose the sanction.
USADA was contracted by the IBJJF to run testing at the tournament. The details are in the statement published by the agency.
