Mr. Samuel Adelebari Francis is a Nigerian Athlete representing Qatar and competing in the 100m and 200m Athletics event at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
In 2016, the IOC decided to perform further analyses on certain samples collected during the 2008 Olympic Games. These additional analyses were performed with analytical methods which were not available in 2008.
In May 2016 the International Olympic Committee reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after his 2008 A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance stanozolol.
After notification the IAAF ordered a provisional suspension. The Athlete accepted the test result, waived his right to be heard and he filed a statement in his defence.
The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substance and submitted that he had used supplements provided by his Bulgarian coach in 2007 and 2008. The Bulgarian coach would have convinced the Qatar Athletic Federation that the Athlete would be able to run the 100m in 9.8sec in the 2008 Olympic Games. The Athlete argued that he was young and naïve and he did not know what the coach provided to him and he refused to explain the supplements he gave to him.
The Athlete further submitted that he suffered for mental and physical damaged due to the steroids that was given to him. He indicated that he had multiple injuries and lost his self-confidence.
The Commission finds that the fact that the coach would have refused to answer questions about the nature of the food supplements coupled with the promise that the Athlete would be able to run the 100m in 9.8 sec during the 2008 Olympic Games should have raised suspicions even in the most candid and naïve athlete. By accepting “not to ask questions”, the Athlete effectively accepted the obvious risk that what he was ingesting was or contained what it effectively was or contained: a performance enhancing substance, in other words a doping substance. This effectively goes beyond gross negligence and amounts to “intent by acceptance” (dolus eventualis).
The Commission considers the credibility of these explanations is however not high. In the Disciplinary Commission’s opinion, the most likely hypothesis is that the Athlete used a performance enhancing substance, knowingly and consciously.
Therefore the IOC Disciplinary Commission decides on 30 August 2016 that the Athlete Samuel Adelebari Francis:
1.) is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation pursuant to the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 (presence and/or use, of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an athlete’s bodily specimen),
2.) is disqualified from all the events in which he participated upon the occasion of the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, namely, the 100m event and the 200m event.
3.) The IAAF is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence.
4.) The Qatar Olympic Committee shall ensure full implementation of this decision.
5.) This decision enters into force immediately.
