WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL PLAYER SUSPENDED

Swiss Sport Integrity (SSI) has handed down a 42-month suspension to a wheelchair basketball player for the presence, possession, and use of the prohibited substances testosterone and clomiphene.

During an in-competition doping control, wheelchair basketball player, Schwan Wahab, tested positive for testosterone and clomiphene, two permanently prohibited substances.

At the time of the test, however, he did not have a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).

As the documentation provided was incomplete, no retroactive TUE could be granted, the athlete was informed by SSI of the positive result and was provisionally suspended.

During a second test, the athlete again tested positive for clomiphene.

During the proceedings, the athlete stated that the testosterone was taken solely for medical reasons. However, he was unable to provide a valid diagnosis to justify the need for testosterone treatment. Furthermore, he was unable to explain the presence of clomiphene in his system.

SSI, therefore, concluded that the athlete had acted intentionally, both with regard to taking testosterone and the presence of clomiphene detected in his samples, and that he had thus violated the Anti-Doping Statutes. The fact that the substances are permanently prohibited was considered an aggravating circumstance.

The athlete subsequently decided to accept a settlement offered under Article 10.8.1 of the Anti-Doping Statutes, which provides for a reduction of the suspension from 54 to 42 months as a sanction for the presence, possession, and use of the permanently prohibited substances testosterone and clomiphene.

The suspension is effective from June 22, 2026, the date the provisional suspension began, and applies to all sports and all sports-related functions worldwide.

He must also pay the testing and analysis fees, totalling CHF 2,687.

SSI reminds all athletes that they bear full responsibility for any anti-doping rule violations, with all the resulting consequences in addition to sanctions. A Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is required for the use of prohibited substances. The detection of prohibited substances during an anti-doping test can be considered a positive result and may be sanctioned.

We act in sports doping cases in Switzerland and further information may be obtained from either Dr Lucien Valloni or Kim Gamboni by emailing them at valloni@valloni.ch and gamboni@valloni.ch respectively.