Olympic relay champion Gil Roberts has accepted a 16-month ban by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for two banned substances.
The 33-year-old, who formed a part of the USA’s gold-medal winning 4x400m men’s relay team at the Rio 2016 Olympics, tested positive for andarine and ostarine in May.
The substances, classed as anabolic agents, were discovered in an out-of-competition urine sample, although Roberts claimed that his positive test was caused by a contaminated supplement which did not list any banned ingredients on the label.
As a result, Roberts’s punishment was reduced, and having initially been slapped with a provisional 16-month suspension in June, he will be eligible to compete again in October 2023.
“Following an investigation into the circumstances of his case, USADA determined that Roberts’s positive test was caused by his use of a dietary supplement that did not list any prohibited ingredients on the label,” a statement by the USADA read.
“Detailed analysis of a sealed container of the supplement revealed that the supplement contained andarine and ostarine, and the WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah confirmed the finding. The supplement has been added to the USADA High Risk List“.
“Athletes and other sport stakeholders are reminded that, unlike medications, dietary supplements sold in the U.S. do not receive any pre-market safety or efficacy reviews by government authorities. Thus, an increased level of due diligence is necessary to challenge the reasons for use and understand the risks of a positive anti-doping test and/or an adverse health event.”
As well as his Olympic gold medal, Roberts claimed World Indoor Championships gold in the 4x400m relay in 2012 before winning silver in the same event at the 2017 World Championships.
