United States goalkeeper Hope Solo tested positive for a banned substance found in her medication on Monday and received a public warning from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
The 30-year-old Solo tested positive for Canrenone on June 15th, which was found in an out-of-competition urine sample, and has accepted the warning and will play for the United States in the Olympic tournament.
Canrenone is classified as a specified substance, so its presence in an athlete's sample can result in a reduced sanction.
The rules that grant the USDA to give Solo a public warning, rather than a suspension, were implemented starting in 2009 following the regular review and revision of the WADA code, that permits significant reduction or elimination of sanctions for a certain category "specified" prohibited substances.
National anti-doping agencies and athletes had argued more flexibility in sanctions in regards to substances that were not used for performance-enhancing purpose, or were in an athlete's body due to the kind of "honest mistake", like in the case of Solo.
Solo issued this statement after she was warned by the USDA.
"I took a medication prescribed by my personal doctor for pre-menstrual purposes that I did not know contained a diuretic," Solo said in a statement. "Once informed of this fact, I immediately cooperated with the USDA and shared with them everything they needed to properly conclude that I made an honest mistake, and that the medication did not enhance my performance in any way."
