Para triathlete Mhlengi Gwala sanctioned after Adverse Analytical Finding

World Triathlon have reported that a urine sample collected from Mhlengi Gwala, a Para triathlete from South Africa, has returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for the prohibited substance GW1516.

The sample was collected at in-competition testing on 18 September 2022, at the Europe Triathlon Para Cup Bari.

When notified of the findings, the athlete stated that the positive result was due to contamination of a supplement he had been taking, and as such an investigation was put in place to determine that possibility.

Race results since test now DSQ

The findings established the source and evidence led the investigation to agree with the athlete’s statement that the positive result was likely due to contaminated supplements.

Therefore, an 11-month period of ineligibility to race is the sanction imposed by World Triathlon, which has been back-dated to 24 October 2022.

All his race results since the positive test have been reverted to DSQ, meaning the medals and podiums of the men’s PTS4 2022 Europe Triathlon Para Cup Bari and the 2022 Africa Triathlon Championships Agadir – races he won – will be redistributed.

A Q&A on GW1516 on the USADA website reveals that in 2017 there were 31 sanctions related to this compound worldwide. And it adds: “GW1516 was pulled from clinical trials when it was found to cause cancer, which means it has not undergone human studies and is not safe to use.”