Joanna Evans Appeals Two-Year Doping Ban, Says Positive Test From Neosporin-Like Cream

Two-time Bahamian Olympian Joanna Evans is appealing her two-year doping suspension from World Aquatics, claiming she unknowingly ingested the banned substance Clostebol through an antibiotic cream similar to Neosporin.

The 25-year-old former Texas Longhorn said she got a tube of Trofodermin last September from a local pharmacy in Naples, Italy, where she was competing in the International Swimming League (ISL), after cutting her finger on a “jagged, rusty balcony.” She applied the ointment again in October and November to treat a gash on her knee back in Austin, Texas. Evans was tested by a representative from the World Anti-Doping Agency in December and informed in February that her sample contained a banned substance, rendering her ineligible to compete again until Feb. 14, 2024.

“Since my test result, I have been unable to function,” Evans said. “I am broken and devastated as swimming has been my life for many years. I would never cheat and I take pride in representing my country, college, family, friends and community to the best of my ability.”

Evans vowed that “this suspension will not be the concluding chapter in my swimming career.” Her appeal will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“I find it incredulous that a minuscule amount of a banned substance applied unknowingly through a topical cream can have such life altering consequences,” Evans said in a statement. “I hired a specialist attorney in this field to represent me in the legal proceedings to defend my integrity and the reputation of Bahamas swimming. I wholeheartedly acknowledge the efficiency and reliability with which these anti doping tests are carried out to eliminate unfair practices and cheats from sports, but I am not one of them!”

Evans pointed to her history of dozens of clean tests as proof of her integrity on this issue. She has taken part in an anti-doping campaign organized by Bahamas Aquatics, “Clean Swim, Clean Win,” in the past.

“I have a history of dozens of clean tests and conduct myself with integrity in all aspects of my life,” she added. “I have done everything I can to prove that my use of a banned substance was accidental and unintentional. Anyone willing to research my history and professional background will see that I came from very humble beginnings with limited financial resources and I have persevered to stand on my personal and competitive reputation.”

Last June, the International Testing Agency (ITA) told Evans that it believed her actions warranted a four-year suspension, though it offered a three-year ban if she accepted within three weeks. Evans refused and requested a hearing with the FINA Doping Panel.

After much deliberation, the FINA Doping Panel ultimately ruled that Evans didn’t knowingly take a banned substance, but was “significantly negligent” in adhering to anti-doping protocols, resulting in the two-year sentence. This negligence included Evans failing to check for a “doping” warning that was on the box of the cream.

Evans competed in six events after initially purchasing the cream — five ISL matches and the 2021 Short Course World Championships — all of which will see her results disqualified unless her appeal is successful.

Check out Evans’ full statement below:

On February 15, 2023, the FINA Doping Panel released their decision that I should be sanctioned with a 24 month ineligibility period for committing an anti doping rule violation. With the continued support of the Bahamas Aquatics Federation, my family, my coaches, friends and my community, I have decided to appeal the decision through the Court of Arbitration for Sport. I cannot put into words the distress that this situation has caused.

On December 3rd, 2021, I was tested by a representative from WADA in Austin, Texas. I have been tested innumerous times over the years and the results have always been negative. On February 11th, 2022, I was stunned when I was informed over the phone that my sample contained a banned substance.

On September 11th, 2021, while attending a swim meet in Naples, Italy, I cut my finger on a jagged, rusty balcony at the hotel where I was staying. Concerned about infection, I walked to the local pharmacy and asked for an antibiotic cream. I was given a tube of Trofodermin, which I believed was similar to the antibiotic Neomycin (better known as Neosporin). Unknown to me at the time, an ingredient of Trofodermin is the banned substance clostebol. I had no idea that a topical antibiotic cream could contain a banned substance and I had never heard of clostebol. I used the cream for 3 days.

When I returned to Austin, on October 30th, 2021, I slipped a concrete pavement and sustained a substantial gash on my knee. I used the same cream I procured in Italy to assist with emergency healing, but this time the injury was much worse. I used the cream for 5 days then once or twice a week until the end of November.

Anyone who knows me, knows without hesitation that I would never, ever intentionally take a banned substance. The results show an unfathomable low amount of a substance which absolutely could not have enhanced my performance.

Since my test result, I have been unable to function. I am broken and devastated as swimming has been my life for many years. I would never cheat and I take pride in representing my country, college, family, friends and community to the best of my ability. I have a history of dozens of clean tests and conduct myself with integrity in all aspects of my life. I consider myself to be a humble ambassador for my country and my sport. I find it incredulous that a minuscule amount of a banned substance applied unknowingly through a topical cream can have such life altering consequences.

I hired a specialist attorney in this field to represent me in the legal proceedings to defend my integrity and the reputation of Bahamas swimming.

I wholeheartedly acknowledge the efficiency and reliability with which these anti doping tests are carried out to eliminate unfair practices and cheats from sports, but I am not one of them!

I have done everything I can to prove that my use of a banned substance was accidental and unintentional. Anyone willing to research my history and professional background will see that I came from very humble beginnings with limited financial resources and I have persevered to stand on my personal and competitive reputation.

I will forever be indebted to Bahamas Aquatics Federation, my family, coaches and friends who have offered unwavering support and belief in my integrity.

This statement represents my only comments at this time.

Evans represented the Bahamas at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, placing as high as 13th in the women’s 400 free. She then served as one of the country’s flagbearers five years later in Tokyo, matching her finish in the 400 free while also placing 18th in the 200 free.

Evans competed for the University of Texas from 2015 to 2019, finishing her career as a three-time All-American and 11-time Big 12 champion. Her best individual performance at the Women’s NCAA Championships came in 2017, when she took seventh in the 1650 free and 12th in the 200 free.

Evans also won two medals at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, was the bronze medalist in the 800 free at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, and swept the women’s 200, 400 and 800 free at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games.

After her performances in Tokyo, SC Worlds and during the ISL season, SwimSwam named her the 2021 Central American & Caribbean Female Swimmer of the Year.

Given the ISL’s zero-tolerance policy as it relates to doping, Evans would be ineligible to return to the league if her appeal is unsuccessful, should the ISL resume competition. Her lone season in the league came in 2021 for the DC Trident.