Triathlete Summonds acquitted
Not doping, but “sexual contamination”
Oct 26, 2025 – 2:48 amReading time: 2 minutes
Swiss triathlete Imogen Simmonds has been cleared of doping charges. Apparently a substance was transmitted through sexual intercourse.
The doping authority “International Testing Agency (ITA)” has cleared the Swiss triathlete Imogen Simmonds of any guilt or negligence after a positive test for the anabolic agent Ligandrol during an out-of-competition test on December 8, 2024. The ITA explained that the cause of the positive result was so-called “sexual contamination”.
Simmonds was informed of the results of the analysis in February 2025. According to her own statement, the substance found was contained in extremely small quantities – she compared the amount to “a touch of salt in an Olympic swimming pool.”
After her positive test, Simmonds claimed she had no knowledge of how the substance entered her body. She did her own research. She found out that her partner had used the substance Ligandrol to increase fitness.
Apparently fluids such as saliva or semen had entered her body during intimate intercourse. The ITA accepted this explanation and pronounced the verdict “without fault or negligence”.
Simmonds appeared relieved about the decision on social media, but also frustrated by the process. “At that time, the world in which I had built my entire professional career collapsed.” She spoke of the “loss of her identity and her integrity” that had caused her a lot of pain. She had also remained silent on social media for a long time, but now spoke out again with the news of the ITA’s decision. She also expressed the hope that her case would illustrate how unintentional transmission of banned substances can be possible.