Juan Carlos Ortiz Cardenas suspended for anti-doping violation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has suspended Colombian powerlifter Juan Carlos Ortiz Cardenas for four years for committing an anti-doping violation.

The athlete who competes in the up to 54kg class returned an adverse analytical finding for three prohibited substances in a urine sample provided on 22 August 2019 following an out of competition test ahead of his event at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in Peru. 

The substances are methandienone metabolites, boldenone and nandrolone metabolites 19-norandrosterone.  These substances are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2019 Prohibited List under the category S1.1A Exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and S1.1B Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids.

As a result of his violation, Ortiz Cardenas will be ineligible for competition for four years from 22 August 2019 to 21 August 2023. All his results obtained from 22 August 2019 and onwards will be disqualified including forfeiture of any medals, points, records and prizes.

Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample, and that an anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault.

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