In 2024, our client, a talented Ukrainian athlete and a European championship medalist, was on the verge of ending his career—he faced a two-year disqualification due to three missed doping tests.
📜 According to the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA Code), such a violation automatically results in the maximum penalty. For the athlete, this was not just a temporary suspension but a real risk of career termination. He turned to us in search of a solution, and we took on the case. ✊
What We Did:
✅ Conducted a detailed analysis of the circumstances surrounding each missed test.
✅ Examined the explanations provided by the athlete and doping control officers.
✅ Collected additional evidence and witness statements.
⚠️ During our analysis, we identified a crucial detail: one of the missed tests may not have been the athlete’s fault. This became our key argument. We requested additional documents, gathered new evidence, and submitted a request for the test review.
❌ However, the international organization upheld its initial decision. Nevertheless, we did not stop there—we filed an appeal with the Tribunal operating within this organization.
The case was reviewed by a Sole Arbitrator, who accepted our arguments:
✅ The athlete did not deliberately evade testing.
✅ The standard sanction in this situation was excessively harsh.
💪 Result: The disqualification period was reduced from 2 years to 12 months, with the period counted from the date of the first missed doping test. This means that the athlete will be able to return to competition much sooner, preserving his career and future opportunities for success.
👨💼 The case was handled by the Juris Ferrum LF legal team: Attorney-at-Law Ganna Gnizdovska, Legal Assistant Daria Stepanova, and Secretary Liudmyla Hnatenko.
🔗 More details on the case can be found at the following link.