Member Associations | 11 Feb 2011

WADA does not appeal before the CAS: OVTCHAROV-case is closed

11/02/2011 – After the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has also confirmed the decision of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) and declared that the case Dimitrij OVTCHAROV was no doping case. WADA does not use its right to veto before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne as WADA stated to the DTTB. As the International Table Tennis Federation had already refrained from an appeal, the file is now closed. The 22-year-old, currently number 15 in the world ranking list, will not be suspended nor imposed with other consequences.

“WADA has fully confirmed the decision of DTTB’s Executive Committee from October,” DTTB President Thomas WEIKERT commented. “Thereby our decisions are accepted by all parties. We had already integrated the NADA into the hearing in October. The independent Disciplinary Commission Anti-Doping of the DTTB did not come to any different results after it had also thoroughly analysed the circumstances in December and January”.

OVTCHAROV’s urine sample taken in August 2010 contained traces of the prohibited substance Clenbuterol. The athlete could conclusively point out that the most probable explanation for this test result was that Clenbuterol entered his body without his knowledge through food intake during his stay in China at the China Open, or on his trip to and from there. This argumentation was supported by assessments of the leading national Anti Doping experts Professor Dr. Wilhelm Sch?er (Head of the Institute of Biochemistry at the German Sport University Cologne, IOC/WADA accredited Anti-Doping Laboratory) and Dr. Detlef Thieme, Director of the Institute of Doping Analysis and Sports Biochemistry in Kreischa near Dresden.