Hélder Ornelas, 38, a long distance runner from Portugal, has become the first competitor to fall foul of the Athlete Biological Passport instituted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and has been banned from competition for four years.

It is the first time that the Athlete Biological Passport has been used in athletics as sole evidence in support of an anti-doping rule violation.

Lamine Diack, the IAAF President, commented: "Those who try to cheat within the athletics community should be warned that the Athlete Biological Passport is not merely a concept but rather an efficient method that is now being used by the IAAF Anti-Doping Department to identify, target and catch those who believe that doping is the only route to success.

"Cheaters should also be aware that, if they are caught, the IAAF will seek an increased four-year sanction whenever the circumstances so justify."

The Passport measures and monitors an athlete's blood variables over time and establishes an individual longitudinal profile which can indicate the use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.

All competitors at last year's IAAF World Championships in Daegu were required to give blood samples to help build up their profiles.

Ornelas' (pictured top) blood profile was flagged as being abnormal in May 2011 which triggered further investigations in accordance with IAAF Anti-Doping Regulations.

Following an in-depth review of Ornelas' profile, using tests collected by the IAAF between December 2009 and November 2010, three international experts in the field of haematology unanimously concluded that there was no known reasonable explanation for the abnormalities observed in his blood profile other than the use of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method.

On the basis of the experts' conclusion, the IAAF initiated disciplinary proceedings against Ornelas and referred the case to the Portuguese Athletic Federation (FPA) for adjudication.

In referring the case to the FPA, the IAAF sought a four-year sanction as it considered that there were aggravating circumstances in this case.

This is in line with the IAAF's long-standing position in favour of an increased sanction for serious first time doping offences and it maintains it will "continue to enforce the rules on aggravating circumstances whenever there are valid grounds for doing so".

The FPA decision concludes a 10-month evaluation and adjudication process.

Ornelas did not exercise his right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the FPA's decision has become final and binding under IAAF Rules.

He came 46th in the Beijing 2008 Olympic marathon and 15th in the European Championships marathon in Gothenburg in 2006, as well as winning the 2007 Prague International Marathon and the 2005 Milan Marathon.

-Mike Rowbottom

Source: www.insidethegames.biz