800m Ace Vescey Warned on Banned Diuretic

VESSEY ACCEPTS PUBLIC WARNING FOR BANNED DIURETIC

By David Monti

(c) 2012 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

(used with permission)



(21-Dec) -- American middle distance runner Maggie Vessey has accepted a public warning from the United 

States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for testing positive for a diuretic at the IAAF World Challenge meeting 

in Zagreb, Croatia, on September 4.  The substance, Canrenone, an aldosterone antagonist, was present in 

a prescription medication Vessey was taking for her skin.



"I took a prescription skincare product that was prescribed to me by my family practitioner, that I did 

not know contained a diuretic," Vessey said in a statement provided by USADA.  "As soon as I was notified

 of my positive test, I cooperated with USADA and provided them everything they asked for in order to 

demonstrate that I made an honest mistake, and that the medication did not enhance my performance in any 

way."



At the meet in Zagreb, Vessey won the 800m in 1:58.64, her seventh sub-2:00 clocking of the season.  

She will be disqualified from that meet, however, and must forfeit any related earnings, prizes or 

points.  That elevates Cuba's Yuneisy Santiusty to first place; she had clocked a personal best 1:58.70.





Diuretics are banned primarily because they allow athletes to excrete banned substances more quickly, 

thus acting as a masking agent for the use of other performance enhancing drugs.  Vessey, however, will 

be allowed to continue to use the skin product under a doctor's supervision by applying for a special 

exemption for "therapeutic use."



"I have since applied for a Therapeutic Use Exemption for this medication," Vessey added.  "I share in 

USADA's belief in clean sport, and look forward to the upcoming track season."



Vessey, 31, enjoyed her best season in 2011 in the 800-meters when she finished sixth at the IAAF World 

Championships, took second at the USA Championships, and won the Mt. SAC Relays.  Her career best time 

is 1:57.84 set in 2009 in Monaco.