News
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 22, 2008) - USADA announced today the unanimous decision of a three-member panel from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold a two-year suspension for Barney Reed of San Jose, Calif., an athlete in the sport of table tennis, for committing a second anti-doping rule violation. Reed, 30, tested positive for metabolites of cannabis or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at the U.S. Trials on March 3, 2007, constituting his second doping offense. Cannabinoids are prohibited in-competition under the USADA Protocol for Olympic Movement Testing and the rules of International Table Tennis Federation ("ITTF"), both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Reed's two-year period of ineligibility began on May 10, 2007, the date of his acceptance of a provisional suspension. As a result of the doping violation, Reed has been disqualified from any event results on or after March 3, 2007, the date of his positive test, and forfeits any medals, points, and prizes.
Both the May 21, 2008 AAA/CAS hearing decision and the December 15, 2008 appeal decision by CAS can be found on USADA's Web site.
In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website at www.usada.org on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and recreational drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited Substance Guide, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and complete athlete toolkits.