Meat Contamination Cases: WADA amends World Anti-Doping Code from 1 June

Following a meeting of its Foundation Board on 16 May, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced that the Board approved an amendment to Article 7.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code.

In a statement WADA said that the change: “…allows laboratories and results management authorities to close as “no case to answer” matters involving athletes testing positive for clenbuterol when established that it is as the result of ingesting contaminated meat products.”

For context, WADA added: “It has been scientifically established that an athlete can test positive for clenbuterol at low levels following ingestion of contaminated meat in a small number of countries where this is an issue.”

This change will come into effect on 1 June 2019, and will automatically apply to any cases dealt with under the UK Anti-Doping Rules from that date.

WADA will release more details of this Code amendment before 1 June, and will also ensure that the same issue is addressed in the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code

The full WADA announcement can be found here.