Triathlon athlete Imogen Simmonds expressed immense relief after being cleared of a doping violation despite testing positive for a prohibited substance. Simmonds, aged 32, faced suspension by the International Testing Agency (ITA) earlier this year due to a positive test result for ligandrol, a banned substance that enhances muscle growth and physical performance.
Following a comprehensive investigation, a verdict of ‘no guilt or negligence’ was reached, allowing Simmonds to resume competition. In a social media post, Simmonds shared her relief at the ITA’s decision, attributing the positive test result to inadvertent contamination through intimate contact with her partner, who unknowingly consumed supplements containing ligandrol.
The ITA confirmed that Simmonds was not at fault for the anti-doping rule violation and lifted any ineligibility period, permitting her immediate return to competition as no competitive results needed to be disqualified. Despite the opportunity for appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Simmonds is refocusing on her triathlon career.
With ten career victories and a previous ranking of seventh in the PTO’s World standings, Simmonds now aims to regain her competitive standing after a recent fourth-place finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand.
