Bonn, Germany - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announces that the Internal Appeal requested by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Austria regarding the anti-doping rule violation of Wolfgang Dubin (Athletics, F36), which occurred during the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games has been denied after an Internal Appeal Hearing. The original decision imposed was upheld, meaning that Dubin is retrospectively disqualified and loses his silver medal from the men’s Shot Put final event and receives a minimum sanction. The minimum sanction is a warning and reprimand and no period of ineligibility considering that the substance used belongs to the list of Specified Substances and that the use was not intended to enhance sport performance (Article 12.3 of the IPC Anti-Doping Code). 

Dubin, 36 years of age, from Austria, returned an adverse analytical finding of a stimulant, propylhexedrine, a substance regarded as belonging to the list of Specified Substances in a urine sample taken during the in-competition period of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympics.

During the Internal Appeal Hearing, Dubin reiterated that he had no knowledge of the substance being on the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) 2004 Prohibited List and as a result his NPC did not apply for a Therapeitic Use Exemption (TUE) on his behalf.

The basis for the IPC's decision is the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) confirmation, prior to the initial notification, that propylhexedrine was included on the 2004 Prohibited List through the clause SI (Stimulants).

This ruling is in accordance with the IPC Anti-Doping Code. As a signatory of the WADC, the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC, together with the International Federations  (IFs) and the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), established the IPC Anti-Doping Code (January 2004) to prevent in the spirit of fair play, doping in sport for athletes with a disability. The IPC Anti-Doping Code is in conformity with the general principles of the WADC.

A total of 680 tests were carried out at the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, resulting in ten adverse analytical findings (two (2) out-of-competition and eight (8) in-competition) and anti-doping rule violations.

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For further information, please contact Miriam Wilkens, IPC Media and Communication Director on +49-228-2097180, e-mail: Miriam.wilkens@paralympic.org or http://www.paralympic.org.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the international governing body of sport for athletes with a disability. It supervises and co-ordinates the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games and other multi-disability competitions, of which the most important are World and Regional Championships. The IPC, situated in Bonn, Germany, also supports the recruitment and development of athletes at a local, national and international level across all performance levels.