French fencer Ysaora Thibus has successfully refuted doping allegations by asserting that she unintentionally consumed a banned substance through kissing. Thibus, the 2022 world champion in women’s foil, faced a potential four-year ban from competition after testing positive for ostarine in January 2024, an anabolic agent prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2008. She claimed that the substance entered her system via kisses with her former romantic partner, U.S. fencer Race Imboden. WADA challenged her explanation, ultimately leading to a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on July 7 that exonerated Thibus.
The CAS Panel stated that the evidence supported the possibility that ostarine could be transmitted through saliva during kissing, particularly based on the dose ingested by Thibus’ partner. They determined that the doping violation was not intentional and that Thibus bore no fault or negligence in the matter. While WADA expressed disappointment with the outcome, they respected the decision.
Thibus, who had faced scrutiny for over a year, including during the 2024 Paris Olympics, was initially suspended by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) but was later cleared by the disciplinary panel. This allowed her to compete in Paris, where she fell short of a medal in the round of 32. The case highlighted the unique defense of “contamination through kissing” in the realm of doping disputes, as athletes have sought to explain how banned substances unknowingly entered their systems through various means.
Thibus’ attorney maintained her innocence throughout the process, emphasizing the consistency of their defense based on the factual circumstances. The ruling by CAS underscored the importance of examining the scientific plausibility of such claims when adjudicating doping cases in sports.
