WADA Welcomes CAS hGH decision relating to Patrik Sinkewitz

WADA has welcomed the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to uphold the appeal filed by Nationale Anti-Doping Agentur Deutschland (NADA) against cyclist Patrik Sinkewitz for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) relating to human Growth Hormone (hGH).

The CAS Panel in determining the matter recognized that the German NADA clearly established that the athlete’s blood samples revealed the presence of exogenous hGH, and that there was no situation which might require clarification of the decision limits as was required following last year’s Veerpalu case.

Further, the Panel decided that the decision limits in the hGH guidelines are not legally binding as such, but provide recommendations to the laboratories as to what should be reported. Last year’s Veerpalu case was distinguished accordingly.

“This is positive news and, coming from CAS, strengthens the point that the test for human Growth Hormone is recognized as fully reliable,” said WADA President Sir Craig Reedie.