Amateur 58 year-old cyclist Julie Barnett of Australia has been sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for the use of a banned substance according to a Sport Integrity Australia announcement.

Barnett is no stranger to UCI and World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) regulations and policies, having been a former World Champion and Australian National Champion.

Barnett returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an in-competition doping control test at the UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships in England on 16 October 2019 where she set a new 500M world record, won gold and was awarded an amateur World Champion rainbow jersey.

Analysis of her sample detected the presence of Bishydroxy-metabolite (metabolite of LGD-4033), commonly sold as Ligandrol on the black market. The drug is currently in development, undergoing clinical trials and has not been approved for medical use by any regulatory agency.

LGD-4033 is prohibited in and out-of-competition as a WADA S1 Class Anabolic Agent. It was developed as a selective non-steroidal anabolic agent for the treatment of muscle wasting conditions such as aging, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer. It is promoted as inducing muscle and bone growth without the unpleasant side effects associated with anabolic steroid use. Since 2015, the substance has been showing up in WADA drug test results from athletes and in thoroughbred race horses.

Union Cycliste Internationale sanctioned Barnett by banning her from all competitions from 16 October 2019 through 21 February 2021. The UCI also stripped Barnett of her 2019 World Championship title, world record and rainbow jersey.

Under the UCI’s new “No Significant Negligence” policy, amateur athletes like Barnett found testing positive test for banned substances can now claim “My recovery powder bought on the internet was tainted” or “I meant to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption” and receive a maximum ban of two years, rather than the previous automatic four year ban.

Barnett is already planning a comeback and is registered to compete in the 2021 AusCycling Masters Track National Championships taking place 26-29 June.

Photos © UCI, ASADA

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