Irish athlete retires after being given four-year doping suspension

According to reports in the Irish Mirror and Ireland’s National Public Service Media (RTE), Irish triathlete Ben Shaw has retired after being given a four-year suspension for a positive drug test for Ligandrol, a selective androgen receptor modulator.

Irish triathlete Ben Shaw retires after being handed four year doping suspension https://t.co/HBqRtON0BN

— Irish Mirror Sport (@MirrorSportIE) November 12, 2020

Ligandrol is not legally available in any medications, but is sold as a “research chemical.” It increases lean muscle mass, and is banned because of the “anabolic, muscle-building effects,” according to the USA Anti-Doping Agencey (USADA).

According to the news reports, the Australian-based 28-year-old tested positive during an out-of-competition test on July 22.

Four-year ban for Irish triathlete Ben Shaw, who tested positive on July 22 for LGD-4033 (ligandrol), a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that functions like an anabolic steroid. He did not request a hearing to dispute the finding. ?@sportsfile pic.twitter.com/HJfKsf6n7p

— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) November 12, 2020

He was “unable to provide Triathlon Ireland and Sport Ireland with an explanation as to how the drug was present in his sample and declined to exercise his right to a hearing,” according to RTE.

According to his athlete page on the World Triathlon website, Shaw competed in February at the Devonport OTU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Cup, finishing 21st. He competed in eight World Triathlon events last year, including the World Triathlon Montreal World Cup – he DNF’d at that event. He is currently ranked 327 in the ITU world ranking and 228th in the Olympic qualification ranking.

Shaw has informed both Irish sports organizations that he is retiring from the sport.