Ysaora Thibus Cleared of Doping: Kissing Partner Contamination Claim Upheld
French Olympic fencer Ysaora Thibus has been exonerated from a doping violation after successfully arguing that a positive test for ostarine stemmed from contamination through kissing her then-partner, former U.S. Olympian Race Imboden.
The Case
Thibus, who tested positive in January 2024, faced a potential four-year ban. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the initial ruling, determining that Imboden's ostarine use could have resulted in contamination through saliva exchange.
WADA's Appeal and CAS Decision
WADA had appealed the initial ruling, seeking a four-year ban. However, CAS judges confirmed the plausibility of Thibus's contamination claim based on scientific evidence and Imboden's ostarine use.
Thibus, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Games, competed in the Paris Olympics after the initial ruling. The CAS hearing took place in Lausanne, Switzerland. The judges accepted that Imboden was taking ostarine, leading to contamination.
What's Next?
Thibus is now cleared for international competition.
