Paralympic Games: Green tea gets Brazilian powerlifter suspended

BRAZILIAN powerlifter Bruno Pinhero Carra has been handed a nine-month suspension for ingesting green tea which contained a stimulant after testing positive in an out-of-competition test prior to the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

On 24 August, Carra tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, classed as a diuretic or masking agent on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list, and was provisionally suspended on 31 August and he did not compete in London.

An International Paralympic Committee statement read: “In his first hearing Carra presented evidence of green tea capsules that he had ingested prior to the sample collection.

“Both he and NPC [National Paralympic Committee] Brazil suspected that the capsules may contain hydrochlorothiazide even though the prohibited substance was not listed on the product label.

“Following tests at the drug control centre, Harlow, it was confirmed that each green tea capsule analysed contained the prohibited substance even though it was not listed.

“In accordance with the IPC anti-doping code, Bruno Pinheiro Carra will serve a nine-month suspension for the violation beginning on 28 August, 2012, the date of notification. A financial sanction of €560 was also imposed on the athlete.

“He has also been prohibited from competing in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.