CAS Anti-Doping Division: Weightlifting
The Court of Arbitration for Sport Anti-Doping Division (CAS ADD) upholds four-year period of ineligibility on Xiaojun Lyu (Lyu Xiaojun)
Lausanne, 22 May 2025 - The Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) has partially upheld a request for arbitration filed by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) against Mr Xiaojun Lyu.
Mr Lyu was subject to an out-of-competition doping control on 30 October 2022. On 20 December 2022, the International Testing Agency (ITA) on behalf of the IWF informed Mr Lyu of an adverse analytical finding and a provisional suspension was imposed with immediate effect. The substance detected in the control is recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO), prohibited under S2 of the 2022 WADA Prohibited List.
In May 2024, the IWF filed a Request for arbitration with the CAS ADD requesting 1) that Mr Lyu be found to have committed antidoping rule violations under art. 2.1 and / or 2.2 of the IWF Anti-Doping Rules (ADR), and 2) that Mr Lyu be sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of four years starting on the date of the CAS ADD decision. After the evidentiary proceedings, during which many documents have been produced, a hearing was held on 2 April 2025 by videoconference.
The sole arbitrator in charge of this case found that the Athlete had committed an ADRV, by using rEPO, under Article 2.1 of the IWF ADR. Therefore, a four-year suspension normally applies unless the Athlete can prove that the ADRV was not intentional. The Sole Arbitrator noted that Mr Lyu did not put forth any arguments with respect to a potential lack of intent. The Athlete’s case was that he did not commit an ADRV and should be acquitted of all charges. He did not put forward any alternative reasoning as to why the period of ineligibility to be imposed on him should be reduced, in the event that he is found guilty of an ADRV.
The arbitrator acknowledged that the filing of the case to the CAS ADD was delayed for reasons not attributable to Mr Lyu and decided to backdate the start of the period of ineligibility to 30 October 2022, the day when the sample leading to the ADRV was collected.
As a result, all competitive results of Mr Lyu from and including 30 October 2022 to 20 December 2022 (i.e. the start date of the athlete’s provisional suspension) are disqualified with all resulting consequences, including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes.
This is an unofficial summary for media use. According to international rules of arbitration, CAS ADD proceedings are confidential and no further comments on this case will be issued.
