AAA Panel Imposes 20-Month Sanction on U.S. Swimming Athlete Conor Dwyer for Doping Violation

 

 

14th October 2019

 

USADA announced today that an independent three-member panel of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) has rendered a decision in the case of swimming athlete Conor Dwyer, of Los Angeles, and has determined that Dwyer should receive a 20-month sanction after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

 

Dwyer, 30, tested positive for an anabolic agent as the result of out-of-competition urine samples collected on November 15, November 27, and December 20, 2018. His urine samples were analyzed using a specialized test that differentiates between anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. Anabolic agents have powerful performance-enhancing capabilities and can give an athlete an unfair advantage over fellow competitors.

 

All AAS, including testosterone, are non-Specified Substances in the class of Anabolic Agents and prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the International Swimming Federation Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

 

Following a full evidentiary hearing, the Panel found that Dwyer had testosterone pellets inserted in his body in violation of the rules.

 

“As noted in the Panel’s decision, USADA is independent of sport and here to help athletes ensure they compete clean and protect their health and wellbeing within the rules,It’s frustrating that Mr. Dwyer did not take advantage of this support and hopefully this case will convince others to do so in order to protect fair and healthy competition.

 

Dwyer’s 20-month period of ineligibility began on December 21, 2018, the date his provisional suspension was imposed.

 

In addition, Dwyer’s competitive results obtained on and subsequent to November 15, 2018, the date his first positive sample was collected, have been disqualified, and any medals, points, and prizes are forfeited.

 

This decision, as well as other arbitral decisions, can be found here <https://www.usada.org/athletes/results/arbitration-decisions/>.