John Swanguen (Intense/Troy Lee Designs) (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)
Gravity racer J.D. Swanguen (Intense/Troy Lee Designs) was suspended from competition after he tested positive for a metabolite of marijuana. The mountain biker's positive doping test happened during the US National Mountain Bike Championships in July in Colorado where he finished third in the elite men's downhill and fourth in the four cross.
The substance found in his sample from July 19 was Carboxy THC, a metabolite of marijuana or hashish. The 20-year-old rider from San Diego accepted a three-month suspension, which took effect October 9, 2009; however, he forfeits all competitive results, medals, points and prizes obtained since July 19.
According to the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA), cannabinoids are listed as "Specified Substances" and are prohibited under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), both of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the WADA Prohibited List.
Cannabinoids are listed as "Specified Substances" because they could be susceptible to a credible non-doping explanation, and therefore use of those substances can result in a reduced sanction.
Prior to the suspension, Swanguen was ranked 18th in the final US Pro Gravity Tour standings.
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Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
