The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has referred a case involving Cuban Para judoka Yonaldy Gonzalez Mijarez to the International Blind Sport Federation (IBSA) for an alleged anti-doping rule violation related to the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.

As the organizer of the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, the IPC was responsible for overseeing the testing programme at the event.

Mijarez tested positive for a prohibited substance, Dorzolamide, in a urine sample collected out-of-competition on November 16, 2023, as part of the pre-Games testing. Dorzolamide is listed under the S5 category (Diuretics and Masking Agents) in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2023 Prohibited List.

The athlete claimed that he did not intentionally consume Dorzolamide, attributing the positive result to accidental exposure through contact with a family member who was using the medication for legitimate medical reasons.

However, any use of Dorzolamide through a non-permitted route, including the one described by Mijarez, constitutes an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) under the Code. Consequently, the IPC has forwarded the case to IBSA, the governing body for Para judo, to determine appropriate consequences for the athlete, including any potential period of ineligibility.

Due to this violation, Mijarez's individual results from the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games are subject to disqualification, along with any associated consequences such as forfeiture of medals, points, and prizes, unless he can prove that he bears No Fault or Negligence for the ADRV during the IBSA proceedings.

Athletes are held strictly liable for any prohibited substances found in their samples. An ADRV is established whenever a prohibited substance, its metabolites, or markers are detected in an athlete's bodily specimen, regardless of whether the use was intentional, unintentional, or due to negligence.

As a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), the IPC is dedicated to maintaining a doping-free environment in all levels of sport. The IPC’s Anti-Doping Code aligns with the WADC and its International Standards, reflecting a commitment to combating doping in Para sports.