Continued doping
Runner Sara Benfares banned for five years
April 18, 2024, 1:28 p.m
Banned substances were detected several times in a short period of time in the case of track and field athlete Sara Benfares. NADA is now imposing an unusually harsh punishment. Relatives of the 22-year-old had referred to illnesses – and declared her career over. The case of her sister, who was also caught, is still open.
The National Anti Doping Agency has banned German athlete Sara Benfares for five years. NADA justified the high sentence with aggravating circumstances. The 22-year-old European Championship and World Cup participant recently announced that she would end her career. A decision is still pending in the case of her younger sister Sofia Benfares, who also gave a positive doping test.
According to NADA, a total of five different non-specific substances were detected in three samples from Sara Benfares between the end of September 2023 and mid-January 2024. “It can therefore be assumed that the substances will continue to be taken and used over a certain period of time,” was the reason why the ban went beyond the usual four-year ban. The substances mentioned include testosterone, clenbuterol and the blood doping agent Epo.
Sara Benfares can now request that disciplinary proceedings be initiated at the German Sports Arbitration Court within 20 days. The criminal investigation by the Saarbrücken public prosecutor’s office remains unaffected by the sports law decision and is still pending, NADA said.
After the positive sample became known, Benfares’ father explained in a French portal that his daughter was suffering from bone cancer and should not wait to take urgent medication. He then also announced the end of his daughter’s career. The lawyer recently said that Benfares was suffering from a diffuse bone disease for which neither the doctors nor her father had a plausible explanation. Bone cancer cannot currently be ruled out.
After Sara Benfares, her 19-year-old sister Sofia also tested positive for Epo. Both athletes were subsequently excluded from their club LC Rehlingen. The club from Saarland also revoked the membership of older sister Selma.