US Olympic boxer Virginia Fuchs escapes doping ban when positive test attributed to ‘substances transmitted through sex’

US Olympic boxer Virginia Fuchs has escaped a doping ban as her positive test attributed to “substances transmitted through sex.” USADA announced it’s ruling on Thursday clearing the 32-year-old who hopes to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year as a flyweight. Fuchs served as a recent captain of the US Olympic team, which returned […]

US Olympic boxer Virginia Fuchs has escaped a doping ban as her positive test attributed to “substances transmitted through sex.”

USADA announced it’s ruling on Thursday clearing the 32-year-old who hopes to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics next year as a flyweight.

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Virginia Fuchs escaped the ban[/caption]

Fuchs served as a recent captain of the US Olympic team, which returned to Colorado Springs this week for its first training camp since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Fuchs learned in March that she had tested positive for two banned substances during an out-of-competition test in February.

While investigating the tests, USADA learned Fuchs’ partner had been taking products that included the two banned substances, and the levels of Fuchs’ violations were consistent with recent exposure through sexual transmission.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart said his organization confirmed Fuchs’ violation only because it was required to do so.

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Fuchs is taking her third shot at an Olympic appearance this year[/caption]

“While the World Anti-Doping Code requires that this no-fault finding be considered a violation and be publicly announced, we strongly believe this case and others like it, including meat contamination and prescription medication contamination cases, should be considered no violation,” Tygart said.

“We will continue to advocate for changes to the World Anti-Doping Code so that where there is no intent to cheat and no performance benefit, an athlete should not face any violation or unnecessary public attention.”

On Twitter, Fuchs expressed her gratitude to USADA writing: “This has been a huge lesson for me and now that [it’s] over, I’m fully focused on preparing for Tokyo.”

Fuchs is taking her third shot at an Olympic appearance this year.

She was the US team’s flyweight before the Rio Olympics in 2016, but fell just short of qualification for the games.

Fuchs and most of her US teammates still must secure a spot in Tokyo in two qualifying tournaments to be held within the next year.