Polish 18-year old Mateusz Chaba has been handed a 12-month suspension by the Polish Arbitral Tribunal for a positive test of the substance 2-amino-N-ethyl-1-phenylbutan. This extends the initial 6-month suspension given by the Polish Swimming Federation, which was then appealed by FINA. The suspension will still date back to June 16th, 2013, where Chaba tested positive at the Polish Championships.
Chaba competed at last year’s European Junior Championships, and then served his initial 6 month suspension. Beginning in December of 2013, after the conclusion of his initial 6 months and during the appeals process, he competed in at least 4 more meets through the end of March.
He will now go on about a three-week hiatus until the conclusion of his new year-long suspension in mid-June, and will lose the results from meets since last June.
Chaba is primarily a sprint freestyler and butterflier; his best times are 23.61 in the 50 free, 24.64 in the 50 fly, and 55.62 in the 100 fly. That 50 fly time resulted in a 6th-place finish at Euro Juniors last season.
2-amino-N-ethyl-1-phenylbutan is classified as a “specified substance,” which according to the World Anti-Doping Association means that under certain circumstances, “accidental ingestion” can be reduced from the standard 2-year suspension. While WADA says that these aren’t necessarily less serious substances, that “there is a greater likelihood that these substances could be susceptible to a credible non-doping explanation, as outlined in section 10.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code.”
This particular substance, known as phenylisobutylamine, and acts as a norepinephrine releasing agent. In practice, the substance can be used to treat ADHD, as a nasal decongestant, and to promote wakefulness. According to the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, the substance has been tied to the dietary supplement ‘CRAZE’ and is not uncommon in the broader population.