Why Was Colombian Para-athlete Katty Julieth Hurtado Banned for Two Years?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Katty Julieth Hurtado has been banned for two years for a doping violation.
- The substance detected was N,N-Dimethylphenethylamine.
- Her results from the 2024 Para Athletics World Championships are void.
- All athletes are responsible for what is found in their samples.
- The IPC is committed to a doping-free sporting environment.
Bonn (Germany), Sep 19 (NationPress) The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has imposed a two-year ban on para-athlete Katty Julieth Hurtado due to a violation of anti-doping rules (ADRV), infringing upon the IPC Anti-Doping Code.
This decision followed a hearing by the Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal, which is authorized to address alleged ADRVs under the IPC’s Anti-Doping Code.
The Colombian athlete tested positive for a prohibited substance in a urine sample collected during the competition on May 25, 2024, after the women's 400m T38 event at the 2024 Para Athletics World Championships in Kobe, Japan.
The substance identified was N,N-Dimethylphenethylamine (including phenethylamine and its derivatives), categorized under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2024 Prohibited List as a class S6 Stimulants. It qualifies as a Specified Substance under the Code.
The IPC provisionally suspended the athlete on November 21, 2024, while her case was pending, as stated in a release by the IPC.
Hurtado contested the charges and asked for a Tribunal hearing. After the proceedings, the Tribunal confirmed the charges and imposed the penalties requested by the IPC.
Notably, the Tribunal found no valid scientific evidence from the athlete to justify the presence of the banned substance in her samples. Furthermore, she did not demonstrate that she had no fault or negligence regarding the violation.
Consequently, she is barred from participating in competitions and other sporting activities (except for authorized anti-doping education and rehabilitation programs) for two years, from November 21, 2024, to November 20, 2026.
All results achieved by Hurtado at the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships are now void, resulting in the forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes. Additionally, all her results from the time of the sample collection until the provisional suspension are disqualified, with similar consequences.
It is essential to note that each athlete bears full responsibility for the substances found in their samples. An ADRV is established whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is detected in an athlete's sample, regardless of intent or negligence.
As a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the IPC is dedicated to maintaining a doping-free environment in sports at every level. The IPC has set forth the IPC Anti-Doping Code in alignment with the fundamental principles of the WADC, including the WADC International Standards, with the hope of fostering a fair fight against doping in sports for athletes with disabilities.