On Wednesday the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that cyclist Otylia Marczuk of Poland tested positive for the prohibited substances Stanozolol and Erythropoietin (EPO) prior to competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

She returned positive test results from urine and blood samples collected out-of-competition on 25 August 2024. Three days later Marczuk was provisionally suspended by the IPC and not allowed to compete in the Paralympic Games.

Marczuk, who has poor eyesight and competes on a tandem with 2019 UCI Gran Fondo Time Trial World Champion Ewa Bankowska, was expected to challenge for Paralympic gold in the 3000m pursuit after winning a UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championship bronze medal six months earlier.

While she initially disputed the test results and provisional suspension, Marczuk later admitted to committing the anti-doping rule violations.

The IPC will now refer the case to Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to determine any additional sanctions for Marczuk, including a potential ban from sport.

Stanozolol and Erythropoietin (EPO) are banned at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency as S1.1 (Anabolic Androgenic Steroids) and S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics), respectively.

Photo Credit: IPC

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