Para powerlifter Sunjeong Choe receives three-year ban for anti-doping rule violation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has banned Para powerlifting athlete Sunjeong Choe for a period of three years for committing an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV), in breach of the IPC Anti-Doping Code.

The South Korean athlete returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for two Prohibited Substances in a urine sample provided in-competition on 24 August 2023 during the women’s over 86kg final at the Dubai 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships.

The substances were SARMS LGD-4033 (ligandrol) and SARMS enobosarm (ostarine). The substances are included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2023 Prohibited List under the class S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents). They are both non-Specified Substances for the purposes of the Code.

The athlete was provisionally suspended by the IPC on 20 October 2023 pending a resolution of her case.

The athlete subsequently accepted the commission of the ADRV, and the consequences proposed by the IPC.

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 three years from 20 October 2023 to 19 October 2026.

The results obtained by the athlete in the women’s over 86 kg final at the Dubai 2023 World Para Powerlifting Championships are disqualified, with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes. All other results obtained by the athlete from the date the sample was collected (24 August 2023) until the commencement of the provisional suspension (20 October 2023) 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 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.