Australian triathlete Lisa Marangon claims 'sabotage' after doping ban
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Updated 30/07/2016 at 15:42 GMT
Multi-time 70.3 champion Lisa Marangon has made an official statement prior to receiving maximum penalty from ASADA for testing positive for a banned PED.
Australian pro triathlete issues statement on doping ban
Image credit: Eurosport
With an official punishment from the Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority (ASADA) expected over the weekend, 36-year-old Australian pro triathlete Marangon issued her own official statement to US-based industry news website Triathlete.com on Friday, July 29.
The multi-time Ironman 70.3 champion and former top-ranked ITU Long Distance competitor tested positive for the banned performance enhancing drug (PED), Ostarine, immediately following her fifth-place finish at Challenge Melbourne on January 31.
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Australian pro triathlete Lisa Marangon is set to receive a four-year ban after testing postive for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) at Challenge Melbourne in January - Photo: Matt Roberts / Getty Images
Image credit: Eurosport
Marangon, who denies any intentional wrongdoing or knowledge of the drug in question, issued a precursory statement to Triathlete prior to what is expected to be the maximum penalty, a four-year ban, handed down from ASADA.
It is with a heavy heart that I wish to announce that in January of this year I tested positive for a banned substance, called ‘Ostarine.’ As will be evident over the coming period of time, I maintain that I did not knowingly take this substance and that I am the victim of tampering and or sabotage at the hands of person/s who wish to cause me harm…
Also known as MK-2866, Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). The drug binds to an athlete’s muscle receptors and enhances steroid-like muscle growth. Independent testing showed Marangon had 25mg of the PED in her system on race day.
I will continue to protest my innocence, regardless of the findings and sanctions which are in the process of being handed down against me. Whilst I am devastated that this will likely bring about the end of my professional triathlon career, I would like to state clearly that I have been completely honest and fully cooperative with ASADA during the investigative process, and hold no ill will toward that agency, the race or the sport.
Marangon’s last win came in December at the inaugural T3X Endurance Triathlon (4km swim/120km bike/30km run) six weeks prior to Challenge Melbourne (Jan. 31). Her last three races since include seventh-place finish at Ironman 70.3 Geelong (Feb. 7), fourth-place at the Husky ‘Long Course’ (Feb. 21) and a DNF at Ironman New Zealand (March 5).
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