USADA announced today that a three-member panel of the American Arbitration Association North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (AAA), rendered its decision in the case of cyclist Robert Lea, finding that Lea committed an anti-doping rule violation, and will serve a 16-month suspension. Lea, 32, of Topton, Penn., provided a urine sample on August 8, 2015, at the Elite & Junior Track National Championships competition held August 3-8, 2015, in Carson, Calif. His sample resulted in an Adverse Analytical Finding for noroxycodone, which is a metabolite of oxycodone.

Oxycodone is listed as a specified prohibited substance in the class of narcotics on the World Anti‐Doping Agency (“WADA”) Prohibited List, which has been adopted by the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing and the rules of the International Cycling Union (UCI). Lea’s 16-month period of ineligibility began on September 10, 2015, the date on which he accepted his provisional sanction. As a result of the doping violation, Lea has also been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on August 8, 2015 at the Elite & Junior Track National Championships and on and subsequent to the date in which the provisional sanction was accepted, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.

In an effort to aid athletes, as well as all support team members such as parents and coaches, in understanding the rules applicable to them, USADA provides comprehensive instruction on its website on the testing process and prohibited substances, how to obtain permission to use a necessary medication, and the risks and dangers of taking supplements as well as performance-enhancing and psychoactive drugs. In addition, the agency manages a drug reference hotline, Drug Reference Online (www.GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions with National Governing Bodies and their athletes, and proactively distributes a multitude of educational materials, such as the Prohibited List, easy-reference wallet cards, periodic newsletters, and protocol and policy reference documentation. USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.

• This media release was originally published on the US Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) internet site on 17 December 2015. To access the original, please click here. A PDF of the sanctioning decision is also available by clicking here.