COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AFP)
Hope Solo, the starting goalkeeper for the defending champion
United States women's Olympic football squad, has been given only
a warning after a positive doping test.
The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced the violation and
punishment on Monday, 16 days before the Americans are set to
open their Olympic campaign against France in Glasgow, Scotland.
Solo, 30, tested positive for canrenone in a random urine sample
taken last June 15.
But canrenone is classified as a specified substance, allowing
for sanctions against an athlete to be reduced if found in a
sample.
Solo was taking a prescribed medication in a therapeutic dose
under the care of a physician and the medication, when
metabolized, resulted in the adverse analytical finding,
according to USADA.
"I took a medication prescribed by my personal doctor for
pre-menstrual purposes that I did not know contained a diuretic,"
Solo said in a statement.
"Once informed of this fact, I immediately cooperated with USADA
and shared with them everything they needed to properly conclude
that I made an honest mistake and that the medication did not
enhance my performance in any way."
A meaningful ban of any sort would have kept Solo out of the
Olympic squad but accepting a warning allows her to play.
"As someone who believes in clean sport, I am glad to have worked
with USADA to resolve this matter and I look forward to
representing my country at the 2012 Olympic Games in London,"
Solo said.
USADA chief executive Travis T. Tygart indicated that he felt the
lack of a ban was justified in Solo's case.
"As in all cases, we thoroughly investigate the circumstances and
always do what is fair and right for clean athletes and the
integrity of sport," he said.
US Soccer was quick with a statement of its own in support of
Solo.
"After discussions with Hope, we fully support her clarification
that the positive test for canrenone was due to the use of a
prescribed medication from a personal doctor for pre-menstrual
purposes and not related to performance enhancement in any way,"
US Soccer said in its statement.
"We fully cooperated with USADA during the disciplinary process
to ensure it could be resolved quickly. Hope has accepted the
public warning for her rule violation. US Soccer, Hope and the
rest of the women's national team staff and players are looking
forward to continuing preparations for the Olympics."
