Elite Triathlete banned for using illegal performance-enhancing substance
Irish triathlete Ben Shaw has been given a four-year ban for testing positive in July for using an illegal performance-enhancing substance and has subsequently announced his retirement from the sport.
Shaw has represented Ireland in ITU World Cups and Continental Cups at an elite level and is ranked 327th in the ITU world rankings, Australia-born Shaw did not seek a hearing to dispute the finding and has failed to provide an explanation to Triathlon Ireland and Sport Ireland. The test took place in Australia while the 28-year-old was out of competition where he tested positive for Ligandrol, a selective androgen receptor modulator which works in a similar way to testosterone and anabolic steroids that enhances your strength and increases your stamina.
Ligandrol is currently on the World Anti-Doping Association list of prohibited drugs and has been increasingly found in drug testing samples of athletes around the world. It is illegal to buy anywhere in the world as the American company developing it, for treatments like muscle wasting and osteoporosis has still not approved it for human consumption. The drug is freely available on the black market – often marked research chemicals – especially in eastern European countries, with many online sites selling it. There were even reports that it was being used on racehorses.Ligandrol is not a legitimate dietary ingredient, and therefore it is illegal to sell this ingredient in supplements. Any dietary supplement that advertises to contain LGD-4033 would be considered an unapproved new drug by the FDA and is prohibited under class S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents on the WADA Prohibited List and should be avoided.
