Triathlon champion Imogen Simmonds has expressed immense relief after avoiding a doping suspension despite testing positive for a banned substance. The 32-year-old athlete was initially barred by the International Testing Agency (ITA) earlier this year following a positive test for ligandrol, a banned selective androgen receptor modulator known to enhance physical performance and muscle growth.
However, a recent investigation led to a verdict of ‘no guilt or negligence,’ allowing Simmonds to resume competing. In a social media post, she shared, “I am incredibly relieved that the ITA has cleared me of any guilt or negligence related to my doping control test in December 2024, where ligandrol was detected due to unintentional contamination.”
The ITA confirmed that the presence of ligandrol in Simmonds’ sample resulted from inadvertent contact with her partner, who was using supplements containing the prohibited substance without her knowledge. Consequently, no period of ineligibility was imposed on Simmonds, and she is now free to compete immediately.
While the case can still be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Simmonds is focusing on her return to triathlon competition. With an impressive track record of 10 career victories and a previous ranking of seventh in the 2024 PTO World rankings, she aims to regain her standing in the sport. Her most recent competition was a fourth-place finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand in December last year.