Accusations against Swiss Sports Integrity

Parallel to his protestation of innocence, Flückiger has made accusations against the anti-doping organization Swiss Sport Integrity: The amount found in the A sample was so small that it should only have been considered an atypical result, but not a positive result. The WADA-accredited laboratory in Lausanne also pointed out in its doping control report on the A sample that this could indicate the consumption of contaminated meat. The small amount found had no performance-enhancing effect anyway, Flückiger argued.

In order to prevent false convictions, WADA has issued instructions for the anti-doping authorities on how to proceed in such cases, the so-called Stakeholder Notice regarding potential meat contamination cases of June 1, 2021. Unfortunately, Swiss Sport Integrity did not follow these instructions, the Bern-based athlete announced. According to this, the A sample should only have been assessed as an "atypical result", but not as a "positive result".

The argumentation in Flückiger's press release continues: This assessment would have been urgently required, especially in view of the much more sensitive measurement methods used by the Lausanne laboratory (compared to other laboratories). The quantity found in Flückiger's A sample is lower (0.3 ng/mL) than the threshold value for possible meat contamination (5 ng/mL). In addition, according to his own statements, Flückiger provided two negative anti-doping samples a few days before and a few days after the test on June 5.

Case remains open for the time being

In the meantime, Flückiger has consulted the files of Swiss Sport Integrity and requested all documents, the so-called document packages, concerning the A sample from the Lausanne laboratory. Swiss Sport Integrity has suspended all deadlines until this documentation package has been handed over, which is why no B sample has been requested to date.