European discus champion Sandra Perkovic has failed two doping tests at recent Diamond League meets in Rome and Shanghai. Her test results showed traces of the stimulant methylhexaneamine. A Croatian athletics official put the result down to the athlete inadvertently taking Geranamine extract.
The ingestion of the substance methylhexaneamine has resulted in a spade of doping cases since it was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list in 2010. The problem is that the substance is widely considered a dietary supplement, and contrary to one official’s statement that the drug doesn’t assist throwers, it is known to have a stimulating effect and therefore can influence performance. But wehther Sandra took the substance inadvertently or not, whatever goes into an athlete’s body is his or her responsibility (strict liability) and she’s likely facing at least a 6-month ban.
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