Laurier athlete handed one-year suspension

Track-and-field athlete’s taking of medication in January violated anti-doping regulations

WATERLOO — A Wilfrid Laurier University track-and-field athlete has received a one-year suspension for a doping violation.

Middle distance runner Bettina Boucher was found to have ephedrine in her urine at a competition in Windsor in January, said the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport in a Wednesday press release.

Boucher finished first overall in the 1,500-metre race at the meet.

According to the case file, the athlete’s use of the substance was found to be unconnected to sport or training and associated with a medical condition, which was not specified.

As this was her first violation, a reduced sanction was handed out — a one-year suspension from participating in any sport signed on to the Canadian AntiDoping Program, including training with teammates.

Boucher’s suspension runs until Feb. 3, 2019.

“I would just like it to say the CCES determined it was not performance related and non intentional,” said Boucher.

“As per the banned substances list, the medication is allowed out of competition, and in competition up to a certain amount.”

The CCES said it is an antidoping rule violation to have ephedrine in the system at a concentration that exceeds 10 micrograms per millilitre.

“It’s a central nervous system stimulant, so it’s believed to give the athlete a little more energy,” said Paul Melia, CEO of the CCES.

Peter Baxter, director of athletics and recreation at Laurier, said the school supports the CCES decision and is also providing support to Boucher so she learns from the mistake.

“Athletes are responsible for what they put in their body, they’re educated on it,” said Baxter.

“We educate them, the CCES educates them and so in this case, Bettina has taken full responsibility for the positive (test result) and suspension for one year.”

The CCES is an independent, national not-for-profit organization that administers the Canadian Anti-Doping Program.