French Olympic fencer Ysaora Thibus had her doping charges dismissed on Monday, after arbitrators accepted her defense that a positive drug test resulted from exposure to a banned substance via kissing her partner. The ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) echoes the 2009 verdict in tennis player Richard Gasquet’s famous "cocaine kiss case."
In a statement, CAS said its panel rejected an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which had sought a four-year ban for Thibus. Thibus tested positive for the anabolic agent ostarine in January 2024 but was cleared by an independent tribunal of the International Fencing Federation weeks before the Paris Olympics, allowing her to compete.
WADA had challenged Thibus’ explanation that she was unknowingly exposed to ostarine through her partner, who had used a product containing the substance without her knowledge. However, CAS ruled on Monday: "Science confirms that after ingesting a dose of ostarine similar to that taken by Thibus’ partner, residual amounts in saliva would be sufficient to transmit the substance via kissing."
Arbitrators found that "Thibus’ partner took ostarine from January 5, 2024, and nine days of kissing had a cumulative transmission effect." This conclusion aligned with expert testimony that low-level exposure through close contact could explain the trace amounts found in Thibus’ sample.
The case revives debates over "passive exposure" in anti-doping rules, with Thibus’ acquittal highlighting rare but recognized scenarios where athletes test positive without intentional use. Having already competed at the Paris Olympics after a prior clearance, Thibus can now resume her career without suspension.
