WADA Statement on Marta Dominguez Case

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) notes with satisfaction that, on 19 November, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld appeals by WADA and the IAAF, which challenged the Spanish athletics federation's 2014 decision to clear Spanish runner, Marta Dominguez, of irregularities with her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).

The CAS decision has resulted in Ms. Dominguez being banned for three years for blood doping; and, having all of her competitive results annulled from August 2009 to July 2013, which includes being stripped of her 3,000 metre, world steeplechase title from 2009.

“WADA is pleased with the CAS decision which marks a positive result for clean sport,” said David Howman, Director General of WADA. “Not only does this outcome demonstrate that anti-doping organisations are ‘going to bat’ for the clean athlete, it also shows that the ABP is an increasingly effective tool, in this case by being legally accepted proof of doping,” Howman continued. 

Since its introduction in 2009, the ABP has directly led to more than 80 sanctions. The Passport is also leading to a great number of sanctions when used indirectly to target suspicious athletes for further tests or investigations. The strength of the ABP is that it monitors selected biological variables over time, via the blood, which reveal blood doping practices.

Ms. Dominguez’s ban will expire in October 2017.