IPC Refers Anti-Doping Case of Polish Para Cyclist Otylia Marczuk to UCI
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has confirmed that it will refer an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) case involving Polish Para cyclist Otylia Marczuk, who tested positive for banned substances during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for further action. The referral to UCI, the international governing body for Para cycling, will allow for additional determination of sanctions, including any potential period of ineligibility from competition.
IPC’s Role in Anti-Doping and Testing at Paris 2024
As the major event organizer of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the IPC was responsible for implementing and overseeing the Games’ anti-doping program in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and International Standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The anti-doping program aimed to protect the integrity of sport and ensure a level playing field for all athletes competing at the Paralympic Games.
Doping control measures during the Games included both in-competition and out-of-competition testing, with samples collected from athletes at various stages, including pre-Games testing, post-race testing, and random testing. The IPC’s program also included education and awareness initiatives designed to inform athletes and support personnel about anti-doping rules and responsibilities.
Details of the Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs)
As part of routine pre-Games testing, Marczuk was required to provide both urine and blood samples on 25 August 2024 in an out-of-competition setting. Laboratory analysis of these samples returned adverse analytical findings (AAFs) for two substances prohibited under the WADA 2024 Prohibited List:
Stanozolol – An anabolic androgenic steroid classified under class S1.1. Stanozolol is commonly associated with increased muscle mass, strength, and recovery, providing a performance-enhancing advantage. It is strictly prohibited at all times due to its well-documented history of abuse in sports.
Erythropoietin (EPO) – A peptide hormone categorized under class S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances, and Mimetics). EPO is known for its ability to enhance endurance performance by stimulating the production of red blood cells, thereby increasing oxygen delivery to muscles. It has been widely linked to endurance sports and is strictly prohibited at all times.
Both substances are classified as non-specified, meaning they are considered particularly serious violations and are prohibited at all times, both in and out of competition.
IPC’s Disciplinary Process and Provisional Suspension
Following confirmation of the AAFs, the IPC promptly notified Marczuk of the findings and provisionally suspended her on 28 August 2024, effectively barring her from further participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Marczuk exercised her right to challenge the provisional suspension and requested a hearing before the IPC’s Independent Anti-Doping Tribunal. The Tribunal, which operates independently of the IPC to ensure impartiality in anti-doping decisions, conducted a provisional hearing on 3 September 2024 at the Games. After reviewing the evidence, the Tribunal rejected Marczuk’s appeal and upheld the provisional suspension, meaning she remained ineligible to compete for the remainder of the Games.
Admission of Violation and Consequences
Following the Tribunal’s ruling, Marczuk admitted to committing an ADRV and accepted the consequences proposed by the IPC. As a result:
All competition results obtained by Marczuk at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have been disqualified.
She forfeits any medals, points, and prizes earned during the Games.
Her participation in the Games is effectively nullified.
While these immediate consequences apply to Marczuk’s results at the Paralympic Games, the IPC’s referral of the case to UCI will allow the governing body to determine any further sanctions, including the length of her ineligibility from future competition.
Next Steps: Referral to UCI
Under established anti-doping procedures, the IPC will now refer the case to the UCI, the international federation responsible for governing cycling and Para cycling, to determine the appropriate long-term sanctions. These may include:
A period of ineligibility from competition, typically ranging from four years to a lifetime ban, depending on the severity of the violation, prior history, and any mitigating or aggravating factors.
Additional testing requirements for potential reinstatement in the sport.
Monitoring and compliance measures to ensure adherence to anti-doping regulations.
The UCI will assess Marczuk’s case based on WADA guidelines and the UCI’s own anti-doping regulations before determining the final sanction.
Strict Liability and Anti-Doping Regulations
Under WADA regulations, all athletes are subject to the principle of strict liability, which means they are solely responsible for any prohibited substance found in their bodily samples, regardless of intent, negligence, or external factors. An ADRV occurs when a banned substance, its metabolites, or markers are detected in an athlete’s system, whether or not they knowingly ingested or used the substance.
This principle reinforces the necessity for athletes to be vigilant about what enters their bodies, whether through medications, supplements, or any other means. The IPC and WADA strongly emphasize that athletes and their support personnel must exercise due diligence in ensuring compliance with anti-doping rules.
IPC’s Commitment to Clean Sport
As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the IPC remains steadfast in its commitment to a doping-free sporting environment at all levels. The IPC Anti-Doping Code is aligned with WADC principles and International Standards, serving as a cornerstone of the organization’s broader mission to promote fairness, integrity, and equality in Para sport.
The IPC continues to work closely with WADA, international federations, national anti-doping organizations, and law enforcement authorities to detect and deter doping violations. The organization also emphasizes the importance of education and awareness initiatives to ensure that athletes, coaches, and medical staff understand their rights and responsibilities under anti-doping regulations.
The IPC’s decision to provisionally suspend Marczuk and disqualify her results at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games underscores the organization’s zero-tolerance approach to doping. The referral of her case to the UCI will now determine any further penalties, ensuring that the appropriate consequences are applied in line with global anti-doping standards.
The IPC reaffirms its commitment to protecting clean athletes, safeguarding the integrity of the Paralympic Movement, and upholding the values of fair play and sportsmanship in all aspects of competition.