On 6 April, 2019 amateur racer Jonathan Wood was riding high after winning the Boulder Roubaix mixed surface cycling race in Colorado, USA. On 50% hilly gravel roads and 50% fast smooth pavement the 36 year-old rider bested a field of 60 riders in his category to claim victory.

Three weeks later, Wood, tested positive for an anabolic agent of external origin as the result of an out-of-competition test collected on 29 April by the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA). His urine sample was analyzed using a test that differentiates between anabolic-androgenic steroids naturally produced by the body and prohibited anabolic agents of external origin. Anabolic agents have substantial performance-enhancing capabilities and can give an athlete an unfair advantage over the competition.

USADA thoroughly reviewed the case, including the examination of medical records provided by Wood, determining that the positive test was caused by prescribed medication containing testosterone, which is banned and prohibited at all times. Although the substance was taken at the direction of a physician, Wood lacked a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). Under the USADA TUE Policy, an athlete has the sole responsibility to demonstrate in advance of using a prohibited substance that the medical need to treat a condition satisfies the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) International Standard for TUEs.

On 9 September 2020 USADA handed Wood a two-year suspension for violating the anti-doping rule.

Wood’s two-year period of ineligibility began on 20 June 2019, the date his provisional suspension was imposed. In addition, Wood has been disqualified and must forfeit any medals, points and prizes from 14 cycling races he participated in while using testosterone.

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