Triathlon athlete Imogen Simmonds expressed immense relief after being cleared of a doping violation despite testing positive for a prohibited substance. The 32-year-old was temporarily suspended by the International Testing Agency (ITA) earlier this year following a positive test result for ligandrol.
According to the ITA, ligandrol is a banned substance known as a selective androgen receptor modulator that boosts muscle growth and enhances physical performance, prohibited both in and out of competition. However, Simmonds has been given the green light to resume competition after a thorough investigation found no guilt or negligence on her part.
Taking to social media, Simmonds announced, “I am incredibly relieved that the ITA has reached a ‘no guilt or negligence’ verdict regarding my adverse analytical finding from an out-of-competition doping test in December 2024.” She explained that the presence of ligandrol in her urine sample was due to inadvertent contamination through intimate contact with her partner, who unknowingly consumed supplements containing the banned substance.
In a statement, the ITA confirmed that Simmonds demonstrated no fault or negligence in the doping violation, resulting in no period of ineligibility imposed on her. The out-of-competition sample collection meant there were no competitive results to invalidate. The matter has been considered resolved by IRONMAN and the ITA.
The decision can still be challenged at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but Simmonds is now focused on returning to triathlon competitions. Despite her previous successes, including 10 career victories and a top-ten ranking in the PTO’s World standings in 2024, she aims to resume her sporting career after the ordeal. Her most recent event was a fourth-place finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand on December 14 of the previous year.