The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) today announced an anti-doping rule violation which occurred at the occasion of the IBSA World Championships & Games 2011, in Antalya, Turkey.

Iranian athlete, Esmaiel Ranjbarourimai (Powerlifting), returned an adverse analytical finding of substances that are consistent with the administration of exogenous anabolic androgenic steroids, namely Androsterone >10.000ng/ml and DHEA (Dehydropiandrosterone, Prasterone) > 100ng/ml. This substance is included in the 2011 Prohibited List and is consequently prohibited under IBSA’s Anti-Doping Rules, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC).

According to IBSA’s Anti-Doping Rules, it is each athlete´s personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter his or her body. Furthermore, each athlete is responsible for any prohibited substances found in their bodily specimen, regardless of how it entered their body.

While hearing this case of Esmaiel Ranjbarourimai, IBSA heard that the athlete attributed the adverse analytical finding to a contaminated nutritional supplement he was taking. IBSA would like to take this opportunity to remind its athletes and their support personnel of the risks of taking nutritional supplements. Since the WADC was established in 1999, a significant number of adverse analytical findings have been attributed to the misuse of supplements, and taking a poorly-labelled or contaminated supplement is not an adequate defense in a doping hearing.

In accordance with IBSA’s Anti-Doping Rules, two years´ ineligibility have been imposed on Esmaiel Ranjbarourimai, commencing on 8th April 2011 (the day of the anti-doping rule violation) and ending on 7th April 2013;

In addition, all results including all medals and titles that the Athlete obtained at the IBSA World Games 2011 shall be disqualified.

As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), IBSA remains committed to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. IBSA’s Anti-Doping Rules are in conformity with the general principles of the WADC.