Ohata positive nets 6-year ban

The International Triathlon Union imposed a mandatory six-year ban on Mariana Ohata, Brazil's top ITU triathlete, for committing her second anti-doping rule violation when she tested positive for the prohibited substance furosemide at the Hy-Vee World Cup on June 26. Furosemide is listed as a diuretic and masking agent on the WADA Prohibited List – used to hide the use of speed and endurance producing substances such as EPO.

The ban begins October 2, 2009 and prohibits Ohata from entering any ITU event or any event authorized by its National Federations, or any other signatory to the World anti-Doping code – which includes the World Triathlon Corporation's Ironman events.

At age 31, Ohata could theoretically return to competition late in 2015 when she would be 37 years old. But under current standards, she would have no place to earn a living in the sport she has practiced for 12 years.

Ohata, 31, was Brazil's most decorated ITU triathlete. Her career highlights include a 3rd at the 1999 ITU World Cup in Corner Brook, a 4th at the 2002 ITU World Cup in Edmonton, a 1st at the 2002 ITU South American Games in Rio, a 4th at the 2003 ITU World Cup in Edmonton, a 2nd at the 2003 ITU World Cup in Madrid, a 4th at the ITU World Cup in Rio, a 2nd at the ITU World Cup in Salford, 2nd at the ITU World Cup in Tiszaujvaros, 1st at the 2007 Pan Am Cup in Salinas, a 3rd at the 2008 ITU World Cup in Tiszaujvaros. Perhaps the highlight of her career was a come-from behind 3rd place at the first Des Moines Hy-Vee World Cup in 2007, where she set the fastest run while passing a dozen runners in blistering heat.

Her 39th place finish at the Beijing Olympics was a crushing disappointment to the Brazilian competitor. A win at the Brazil Ironman 70.3 last summer seemed to point Ohata to another positive direction in her up and down career, but a DNF at the subsequent Ironman 70.3 World Championship shlowed long course racing was another valley.

While the initial positive test occurred three and a half months ago, the ITU did not issue any statement of ban until after Ohata's B sample was examined and also found to be positive on August 21 and any and all protests of findings were adjudicated.