Paralympic champion cleared of doping after syringe mix-up involving his dog
A three-time Paralympic champion will be able to compete at Paris 2024 after being cleared of doping in a bizarre case.
Roderick Townsend tested positive for growth hormone stimulator capromorelin in November. Capromorelin is on the the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list because it causes the body to secrete growth hormone like young adults or those going through puberty.
Townsend, who won T47 gold medals in the long jump and high jump at Rio 2016 and the high jump at Tokyo 2020, has now been cleared of any wrongdoing by the USA Anti-Doping Agency. An investigation revealed that the adverse finding came due to the 31-year-old’s dog, who has since passed away.
USADA determined that capromorelin had entered Townsend’s system via a syringe he had used to give his dog specialist medicine. He had been giving his sick dog a prescription liquid medication which worked as an appetite stimulant to maintain his pet’s weight.
Townsend used a syringe to administer the medication and kept the syringe after his dog passed away. He then later used the same syringe to orally administer a liquid vitamin D supplement recommended to him by a nutritionist.
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USADA decided that: “Townsend, through no fault of his own, inadvertently ingested capromorelin residue that was present in the syringe. Administration data from a peer-reviewed published study confirms that exceedingly small amounts of orally-ingested capromorelin can cause a positive test consistent with the miniscule levels detected in Townsend’s sample.”
Roderick Townsend's dog Winnie in February 2021 (Instagram/@thejumpaddict)
He can compete at Paris 2024 (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)USADA’s chief executive Travis Tygart believes that in such cases where athletes are cleared of wrongdoing, they should not be made public in order to preserve their reputation. “With increasing detection and investigation capabilities, it’s our responsibility to ensure that we protect innocent athletes while holding accountable intentional cheaters,” he said.
“WADA rules require publication of no fault findings such as this to remain compliant with the rules. We will continue to fervently advocate to WADA that athletes shouldn’t be charged with violations or subjected to public scrutiny when they inadvertently come into contact with a prohibited substance and there is no effect on performance.”
Townsend is now free to compete for the USA at the Paralympics, which will run from August 28 to September 8 in Paris. He will be aiming to make it three successive gold medals in the T47 high jump in Paris.
He competed as an able-bodied athlete until the age of 15 when he was reclassified. The jumper has a limited range of motion and his muscles aren't fully developed in his right arm after the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck during birth.
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