Andrew Starykowicz suspended for doping for taking medication

The site HOMBRE DE HIERRO has published the sanction imposed on the triathlete Andrew Starykowicz for having used the substance Vilanterol prohibited by the IRONMAN anti-doping code

The 82-point document specifies that the sanction period is 13 months, beginning on December 5, 2019 and ending on January 1, 2021.

With this sanction Starykowicz you will lose all your results to date as the IRONMAN of Florida or the 70.3 of Walco, Challenge Daytona 2019 or its Slot for the World Championship 70.3.

The 37-year-old American Andrew Starykowicz is one of the best triathletes in the world, he has won 18 races and several records in the cycling segments of various IRONMAN events.

You can check his record here

In 2019 he was diagnosed with a disease

The document specifies that in October 2019 Starykowicz was diagnosed with a possible viral pneumonitis and mucopurulent bronchitis (bronchospasm), with a possible viral etiology.

To treat her, she was prescribed Medrol (methylprednisolone) and a Breo Ellipta 200/25 inhaler (fluticasone furoate and Vilanterol inhalation powder) (“Breo”)

Vilanterol was forbidden at all times; Methylprednisolone and fluticasone furoate only prohibited in competition, when administered orally, intravenously, intramuscularly or rectally, but not by inhalation.

The medication that was prescribed was within those not allowed

The athlete alleged that, he consulted GlobalDRO and the WADA website and determined “that there were no therapeutic alternatives containing combined inhalers and glucocorticoids (sic)” and “concluded that there were no alternatives to Breo that were also not prohibited to any degree or other

The document alleges that the Athlete's conclusions were erroneous and based on a misreading of the WADA document and a failure to read the full description of permitted therapeutic alternatives.

On October 15, 2019, the Athlete used Breo and Medrol for the first time, applying to USADA for a therapeutic use exemption.

He competed without having the exemption

On October 25, 2019, USADA sent an email to the Athlete informing him that his TUE application was now complete and had been forwarded to the USADA TUE Committee (the “USADA TUEC”) for review.

In this email it was warned that "if the TUE has not been granted at the beginning of a competition, you will be committing an anti-doping rule violation"

On October 27, 2019, despite these warnings, the Athlete competed in the IRONMAN 70.3 Waco, where he finished second and later in the IRONMAN Florida where he tested positive for vilanterol.

On November 8, 2019, the Athlete's TUE application for Methylprednisolone (Medrol) was approved, but his TUE application for Vilanterol (Breo) was denied.

You will lose all your results between the dates of the medication

Finally, the sanction is firm and you will lose all your sports results achieved in addition to having to pay the amount of the prizes.

You will not be able to participate in IRONMAN tests again until you pay the money.

Andrew has published in his websites, the version of the facts highlighting that he needed medication for the disease and that in no case did it improve his performance.

Only 13 months, since Vilanterol will not be banned in 2021

Because WADA has made a change regarding the use of vilanterol in the 2021 Prohibited List, IRONMAN has agreed to end the period of ineligibility as of January 1, 2021, the effective date of the new Prohibited List. of the AMA