Topline
Federal prosecutors charged a Texas man who claims to be a naturopathic doctor Wednesday with distributing performance enhancing drugs to two athletes before they were scheduled to compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer—marking the first criminal accusation under a 2020 law which aims to prevent doping schemes at international sporting events.
The logo for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is seen in Tokyo on March 15, 2020. (Photo by CHARLY … [+]
Key Facts
Eric Lira, a self-described “kinesiologist and naturopathic” doctor based in El Paso, Texas, allegedly obtained misbranded versions of performance enhancing drugs like human growth hormone and erythropoietin, which boosts red blood cell counts, according to the complaint.
Lira, 41, allegedly obtained the drugs from Central and South America and brought them into the U.S. before giving them to two unnamed Olympic athletes.
One of the athletes wrote in a text to Lira “whatever you did, is working so well,” after discussing her performance running a 100 meter race, according to encrypted messages obtained by prosecutors.
The details given of the athlete suggests it’s Nigerian sprinter and long jumper Blessing Okagbare, who tested positive for human growth hormone on July 19, 2021, and was suspended from the Olympic competition on July 31.
The complaint does not give many details of the second athlete Lira allegedly aided.
Lira faces one count of international sports doping under the Rodchenkov Act, which forbids doping schemes at international sporting events, and one count of conspiracy to violate U.S. drug misbranding laws.
What To Watch For
If convicted of the charge under the Rodchenkov Act, Lira could face a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to the Department of Justice. The conspiracy to violate misbranding laws carries a maximum of five years in prison.
Crucial Quote
“At a moment that the Olympic Games offered a poignant reminder of international connections in the midst of a global pandemic that had separated communities and countries for over a year, and at a moment that the Games offered thousands of athletes validation after years of training, Eric Lira schemed to debase that moment by peddling illegal drugs,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
Key Background
The Rodchenkov Act, passed in 2020, extends U.S. law enforcement jurisdiction to international sporting events where American athletes are competing or that have financial ties to the U.S. The Act is named after Grigory Rodchenkov, a whistleblower who helped expose Russia’s state-sponsored doping scheme dating back to the 2012 Olympics held in London. Russia is still facing the consequences of the years-long doping scandal. Russian athletes have had their medals stripped after positive tests, and the World Anti-Doping Agency banned Russia from competing in the Olympics and other international sports games for four years in 2019. Russian athletes still compete at the Olympics, but they are technically representing Russia, but a neutral party.
Further Reading
First Olympic Anti-Doping Charges Filed In Manhattan Federal Court (DOJ)
Silver Medalist CJ Ujah, Three Others Accused Of Doping At Olympics (Forbes)
New Anti-Doping Law Could Be A Games-Changer, If Enforced (Forbes)
Russia Doping Scandal Fallout: Banned From 2020 Olympics, World Cup And More (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2022/01/12/first-criminal-anti-doping-charges-texas-man-accused-of-supplying-2-olympians/