COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, October 2. USADA announced that Sean Mahoney of Berkeley, California, an athlete in the sport of swimming, has tested positive for a prohibited substance and has accepted a suspension for his doping offense.
Mahoney, 22, provided a urine sample on June 20, 2010, at the Santa Clara International Grand Prix, held in Santa Clara, California. The sample resulted in an adverse analytical finding for Methylhexaneamine, which is in the class of Stimulants and prohibited under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the rules of FINA, the international federation for swimming, both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code ("Code") and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Methylhexanamine was recently listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a Specified Substance and use of such substances may result in a reduction of the otherwise standard two-year period of ineligibility. Mahoney accepted a six-month period of ineligibility which began on July 17, 2010, the day he accepted a provisional suspension.
As a result of the sanction, Mahoney has also been disqualified from all competitive results achieved at and subsequent to June 20, 2010, the date his sample was collected, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.
In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference documentation. USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
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