French Olympic fencer Ysaora Thibus was cleared of doping allegations by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after her defense that she was contaminated through a kiss with her partner, Race Imboden, who was using ostarine, was accepted. The CAS ruled that the contamination was scientifically plausible, allowing her to maintain her Olympic eligibility.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) initially sought a four-year ban for Thibus after she tested positive for ostarine in January 2024. However, the CAS accepted that the contamination occurred over nine days through prolonged contact, as Imboden was using the substance during that period. The decision underscores the complexities of doping cases involving indirect contamination and the scientific rigor applied to such defenses.
Thibus’ partner at the time was Race Imboden, a two-time Olympic fencing bronze medalist for the U.S. The CAS ruling noted that the intake of a dose of ostarine similar to what Imboden was taking would have left sufficient amounts in his saliva to contaminate Thibus through kissing over the nine-day period. This scientific analysis formed the basis for the court’s decision to clear Thibus of the doping violation.
Thibus finished fifth in the women’s team foil competition at the Paris Olympics and 28th in the individual foil event. She was a silver medalist in the women’s team foil at the Tokyo Games and a world champion in individual foil in 2022. The CAS ruling not only protects her Olympic career but also sets a precedent for similar cases involving indirect contamination.
The decision highlights the challenges faced by athletes in doping cases, where the line between legitimate training and potential contamination can be blurred. The CAS’s acceptance of Thibus’ defense also reflects the institution’s commitment to thorough scientific evaluation in doping cases.