The doping scandal involving 15-year-old Valieva, who was said to have accidentally ingested trimethazidine through a relative’s heart medicine, became a major snack during the Beijing Olympics. Her case has not yet been decided.
Possibly a clue can be obtained through the Gbohouo case. The Ivorian ingested the banned substance through an eye medicine and then tested positive in connection with the World Cup qualifier against Cameroon in November.
Fifa’s disciplinary committee does not believe that Gbohouo intended to use the medicine to improve his performance and does not give him a four-year suspension but only a 1.5-year suspension.
Another example of “accidental doping” is the Norwegian ski star Therese Johaug, who also received an 18-month suspension for the lip balm that contained the anabolic steroid clostebol.