Bulgarian paddler Yoana Georgieva is free to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics after her ban was lifted following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD).
The International Testing Agency (ITA) has confirmed that CAS ADD found that Georgieva did not commit an anti-doping rule violation.
Georgieva had been provisionally suspended after the ITA asserted that she had evaded a doping control and tampered with the doping control process with regards to events which unfolded on December 15, 2023.
The ruling by CAS ADD means Georgieva is eligible to race in events, including this week's ICF Canoe Sprint Junior and Under 23 World Championships and the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
An ITA statement, issued on July 17, 2024, read: “The International Testing Agency (ITA), leading an independent anti-doping program for the International Canoe Federation (ICF), confirms that the Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (“CAS ADD”) has found that Bulgarian athlete Yoana Georgieva did not commit an anti-doping rule violation and is thus free to compete in events.
“Considering that Ms Yoana Georgieva has publicly commented on her case and yesterday’s media reports, the ITA, as allowed by the ICF anti-doping rules and World Anti-Doping Code (articles 14.3.4 and 14.3.6), hereby confirms that the ITA had asserted that Ms Georgieva had committed an anti-doping rule violation for evading a doping control and tampering with the doping control process with regards to events which unfolded on 15 December 2023.
“The case was referred to CAS ADD and a hearing was held remotely on 12 July 2024.
“On 15 July 2024, CAS ADD issued its operative award according to which the Athlete did not commit the anti-doping rule violations and was eligible to compete.
“CAS ADD did not provide the reasons for its decision due to the expedited nature of the proceedings.”
