2023-12-06 09:20:00
On September 12, the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) announced that the leading Polish short track athlete – Natalia Maliszewska – had broken doping regulations. However, it was not about the fact that Maliszewska was found using illegal substances. The athlete failed to appear at the designated place and time for anti-doping control three times.
– The athlete was outside the indicated place of stay, we called her and she tried to arrive there on time, but she did not make it. CAS decided that since it was the third violation of anti-doping rules, there was no explanation for the athlete – said Michał Rynkowski, head of POLADA, to Sport.pl.
The final decision on this matter was made on Wednesday. “In the event of a violation of anti-doping regulations in terms of providing residence data, the maximum penalty may be two years, but it may be shortened – depending on the degree of guilt of the athlete,” we read in the official statement.
And further: “It was also agreed that the disqualification period will begin on May 11, 2023, which will allow the athlete to return to sports competition 4 months earlier. Retroactive disqualification will result in the athlete being deprived of the points, medals and prizes she has earned – if she received them in time from May 11, 2023.
It was possible to withdraw the disqualification by a total of 4 months, among others: because of:
- the athlete’s guilty plea, in this particular case, to violating anti-doping rules regarding residence data
- determining that the athlete’s degree of guilt in this particular case allowed for a penalty to be imposed at the lower limit provided for in the relevant anti-doping rules
- the athlete’s consent to the penalty proposed by the anti-doping authorities
- resignation from the standard procedural path, as the terms of the agreement are subject to approval by the Disciplinary Panel
Natalia Maliszewska suspended
“Sentence reductions have already taken place in the past and most often concerned violations of anti-doping rules in the context of using prohibited substances (which we did not deal with in the case). Immediate admission of an anti-doping rule violation and acceptance of the penalty usually results in a reduction of the penalty from 4 to 3 years of disqualification.
“This type of agreement on the reduction of the penalty in the area of anti-doping rule violations resulting from 3 errors in the provision of residence data (ADAMS) and / or absence from the inspection window within 12 months has been concluded for the first time in Poland. The agreement concluded by the three parties was recognized and approved by the Polish Disciplinary Panel of the First Instance on December 5, 2023.
– I’m glad that the whole matter has now come to an end. I know where I stand and I can plan for the near future. The most important thing is that I will be able to return to professional training next season and calmly prepare for the next Olympic Games – said Maliszewska in an official statement.
Maliszewska has been one of the best short track athletes in the world for years. Born in 1995, the Pole was, among others, vice-champion of the world, winner of the World Cup and European champion in 500 m. In Maliszewska we see one of our candidates for the medal of the Olympic Games in 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
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