Decision handed down: Lukas Maurer receives a two-year ban for doping

Following his commanding one-two finish at the European Series Road Racing event in Hengelo, the Netherlands, Lukas Maurer admitted that allegations of doping had been levelled against him for some time: “During a test in September last year, a substance was detected that is normally used to treat muscle wasting in young children.”

As he did not accept this ruling without challenge and took legal action against it, any potential ban was suspended pending a final decision. “At last, there is news regarding the doping allegation I have been facing for over a year. Fourteen months after the sample was taken, the outcome of the proceedings is now in: I have been banned for two years.”

However, as the Swiss athlete reveals, the independent reporting body for ethical breaches, doping and misconduct in Swiss sport, ‘Swiss Sport Integrity’ (SSI), does not assume that there was an intentional breach of anti-doping regulations, which is why the time since the sample was taken will be counted towards his ban. Furthermore, no additional fine will be imposed. “For me, this means that I will likely be allowed to compete in races again in 2028.”

Although he appears to have got off lightly, the overall winner of the 2023 IRRC Superbike Championship questions the proportionality of the sanction imposed by the SSI and provides an excerpt from the ruling. “What particularly concerns me about this decision is that the indictment refers several times to the extremely low concentrations of the detected substance, LGD-4033.

Maurer provides an insight into the final judgement

Some extracts from the document:

Page 19, paragraphs 90–91: It is explained that even the slightest traces of a prohibited substance can lead to a positive doping result – even without any proven physiological effect.

Page 21, paragraph 103: The estimated concentrations are described as consistent with a dose in the microgram range, which is characterised as ‘having no pharmacological effect whatsoever’.

‘First of all, I would like to thank my lawyer for his tremendous commitment and support throughout the proceedings. I would also like to thank Swiss Sport Integrity for their professional and respectful communication and support in this case. Nevertheless, I would like to express my disappointment at the whole situation.’

‘Traces of a prohibited substance were detected in my system, the concentration of which was so low that, in my view, a performance-enhancing effect can be ruled out. Furthermore, the substance can contribute to an increase in body mass – something that would represent a clear disadvantage in motorcycling due to the additional weight. And yet, the outcome is a two-year ban.”

Maurer questions the proportionality of such a sanction

“I understand that sport needs clear anti-doping rules and that these must be consistently enforced. I do not question that in principle. What I do question, however, is the proportionality of such a sanction. I am an amateur sportsman, not an Olympian. I practise this sport out of passion and invest a large part of my free time and my own money in it. This makes it all the more difficult for me to understand why I am being banned for two years, even though no intentional doping was found and no actual performance advantage has been proven.”

“Particularly in motorbike racing, where we invest an enormous amount of personal effort, money and time, such a ban has far-reaching consequences. It means not only having to miss out on races, but also the loss of sporting opportunities, sponsors and valuable time,” said the 32-year-old road racer.

“I would have had the option of challenging the decision before the relevant sports tribunal and continuing to fight the ban. However, after careful consideration, I decided against it. The associated legal and procedural costs would have been substantial, whilst the prospects of success were, in our assessment, slim.”

“This decision was anything but easy for me. Not because I agree with the outcome, but because at some point I also have to make a financially sensible decision. Investing even more money and energy in proceedings whose outcome is highly uncertain would have been hardly justifiable for me.”

“I accept that rules apply. But I believe one must also be allowed to question whether their consequences are justified in individual cases. The past few months haven’t been easy. That makes me all the more eager to be able to close this chapter at some point and get back to doing what I’ve been investing so much in for years: motorbike racing.”