Polish athlete Grzegorz Klos receives 12-month ban for anti-doping rule violation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has suspended shooting Para sport athlete Grzegorz Klos for a period of 12 months for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), in breach of the IPC Anti-Doping Code.

The Polish athlete returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Prohibited Substance in his urine sample provided in-competition on 11 November 2022 during the Mixed 10 Air Rifle prone SH-VI at the Al Ain 2022 World Shooting Para Sport Championships.

The substance was Timolol. The substance is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2022 Prohibited List under the class P1 Beta-blockers.

The source of the AAF was a prescribed medication, Combigan eyedrops, which the athlete was taking for a diagnosed medical condition.

The athlete voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension on 6 February 2023 pending a resolution of his case.

The athlete accepted the commission of the ADRV, and the consequences proposed by the IPC. As a result of his violation, the athlete will be ineligible for competition and other sporting activities (other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes) for 12 months from 6 February 2023 to 5 February 2024.

The results obtained by the athlete in the Mixed 10m Air Rifle prone SH-VI competition at the Al Ain 2022 World Shooting Para Sport Championships are disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes.

As a result of his disqualification from the Mixed 10m Air Rifle prone SH-VI competition at the Al Ain World Championships, Croatia’s Fran Skracic, the original bronze medallist, will now be awarded the silver medal. Bronze will now go to Finland’s Esko Karmala.

Further, all other results obtained by the athlete in the Al Ain 2022 World Shooting Para Sport Championships were also disqualified, with all of the resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any 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 were 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 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.