The Court of Arbitration for Sport announced Friday that it has upheld the five-year ban levied against American hurdler Brianna McNeal for violating anti-doping rules, which will bar her from competing in the Tokyo Olympics.
McNeal, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter hurdles, had been charged with “tampering within the results management process” by the Athletics Integrity Unit, which is the anti-doping arm of the international governing body for track and field.
The 29-year-old McNeal told The New York Times in a story published late Thursday that she missed a doping test two days after having an abortion, then changed the date on forms provided by a doctor, because she mistakenly thought the doctor had gotten the date wrong.
“I just don’t believe that this warranted a suspension at all, much less a five-year suspension, for just a technicality, an honest mistake during a very emotional time,” she told the newspaper.
McNeal was allowed to compete at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon late last month while her appeal with CAS was pending. She finished second in the final of the 100-meter hurdles to qualify for Tokyo. She will now be replaced on Team USA by Gabbi Cunningham, the fourth-place finisher.
Contact Tom Schad at [email protected] or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
