Moroccan athlete Laila El Garaa receives two-year ban for anti-doping rule violation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned Para powerlifting athlete Laila El Garaa for a period of two (2) years for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).

The sanction was determined following a hearing of the Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal, which has jurisdiction to hear and determine alleged ADRVs under the IPC’s Anti-Doping Code.

The Moroccan athlete returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for prohibited substances in a urine sample provided in-competition on 8 July 2022 during the women’s up to 61 kg competition at the St. Louis 2022 Parapan American Open Championships.

The substances were higenamine and heptaminol. The substances are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2022 Prohibited List under the classes S3 (Beta-2 Agonists) and S6 (Stimulants), respectively.

The athlete was provisionally suspended by the IPC on 19 September 2022, pending a resolution of her case.

As a result of her violation, the athlete will be ineligible for competition and other sporting activities (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs) for 2 years from 19 September 2022 to 18 September 2024.

The results obtained by the athlete in the women’s up to 61 kg competition at the St. Louis 2022 Parapan American Open Championships are disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of all medals, points and prizes. All other results obtained by the athlete from the date the sample was collected until the commencement of the Provisional Suspension are also disqualified, with all resulting Consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

Each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in their sample. An ADRV occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in their 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 (the WADC), the IPC remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC has established the IPC Anti-Doping Code (the Code) in compliance with the general principles of the WADC, including the WADC International Standards, expecting that, in the spirit of sport, it will lead the fight against doping in sport for athletes with an impairment.