French sprinter Mouhamadou Fall pleaded accidental contamination via food supplements before the sanctions committee of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) this Wednesday April 10 in Paris. Fall tested positive for heptaminol on July 28, 2023 during the French Athletics Championships, the day of his 100-meter coronation. This control raises the possibility of a two-year sanction for this banned substance, which would ruin the hopes of the sprinter, member of the 4×100 meters relay team, of participating in the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11) . “ One of the products used as a food supplement is contaminated with octodrine, without any mention of the presence of this substance », explained by videoconference Professor Jean-Claude Alvarez, author of the report. However, octodrine, found in sample B and also a banned substance, metabolizes in the body in the form of heptaminol. “ These are low doses, but we have a lot of food supplements that are contaminated », added Professor Alvarez, citing a study estimating that 25 to 30% of food supplements could be contaminated. A test on a volunteer witness made it possible to find concentrations of heptaminol equivalent to that of Mr. Fall, doses “ without any pharmacological effect for the athlete “, he insisted. Antoine Marcelaud, the representative of the AFLD college which initiated the proceedings, considered that Mr. Fall should have “ demonstrate greater vigilance, taking into account their level and experience “. Without contesting the contamination theory, he requested a 15-month suspension, instead of the two years incurred. The decision will not be known for several weeks.
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