Suspended Willenbring’s World Junior Championships Relays Officially Disqualified

Matthew Willenbring. Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Matthew Willenbring’s suspension for a positive test has another layer.

FINA has requested the 2017 World Junior Swimming Championships winning 400 medley relay from the U.S. return its gold medals since Willenbring was on the relay. FINA updated its results in May.

The medals, awards, prizes or prize money was already forfeited in regard to Willenbring, but the new ruling specifically adds relay medals.

Willenbring tested positive at world juniors. He has said that he accidentally ingested medicine in the wrong bottle at a family friend’s house. FINA investigated and rule a 4-month suspension instead of 4 years, which is the maximum penalty.

“The Doping Panel was well aware that on August 28, 2017, the Athlete was a member of a winning Medley Relay but was content in its reasoned decision to limit the sanction imposed on the Athlete to the annulment and forfeiture of “individual results” (largely to protect the identity of the Athlete who was a minor at the time and whose identity the Doping Panel wanted to protect from public reporting),” the decision stated. “It remained an open question what decision, if any, FINA might elect to make regarding the status of the other members of the Medley Relay that won the event (with the Athlete) on August 28, 2017. … despite (its) sympathy to the Athlete’s teammates from the various Relays he participated on there is no alternative but to disqualify the results for all three Relays.”

He was on the 400 free relay, that finished fourth, and the mixed 400 free relay that won silver. Individually, he won the bronze in the 100 free.

Willenbring tested positive for Hydrochlorathiazide, which is banned as a Class S5 Diuretic and masking agent.

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Scott Young

5 years ago

You might want to proofread the title of your article before posting it

Don Secor

5 years ago

Reply to Scott Young

Is proofreading even a thing anymore?

Rick Avila

5 years ago

How do you accidentally take someone else’s medication?!?

Shaheen Alghofari

5 years ago

Joe Stott controverseyyy

Brian Lehman Sr.

5 years ago

Stoopid!

dunc1952

5 years ago

It would be interesting to know what country Willenbring represented at World Jrs. I couldn’t find it in the article.

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Dan D'Addona — Swimming World Managing Editor

5 years ago

Reply to dunc1952

He is from the U.S. the article is updated now.