World Archery and the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced that Lonnie Jacob Marlow (USA) has been sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility after an anti-doping rule violation involving the presence of Clomifene and its metabolite in his sample collected during the 2024 Vegas Shoot. Clomifene is classified as a prohibited substance under the World Anti-Doping Code.
Marlow maintains the substance was unintentionally ingested from a contaminated dietary supplement. Despite this, he could not provide the necessary evidence and accepted responsibility, agreeing to a two-year ban. This ban prevents Marlow from competing during his period of ineligibility, and all competitive results obtained from the 2024 Vegas Shoot onwards, including his second-place finish in the Championship Compound Open class, are disqualified.
This decision alters the podium for the event, advancing Stephan Hansen (DEN) to second place, Kyle Douglas (USA) to third place, and Mathias Fullerton (DEN) remains unaffected as the reigning Champion. Updated payouts will be distributed within the coming month. See updated results here.
In light of this case, the NFAA Foundation urges all Professional and Championship participants to exercise caution and diligence in verifying the substances they consume, ensuring they are compliant with anti-doping regulations and safe for personal health. In today's supplement market, it is crucial for athletes to conduct thorough research and choose reputable brands. In many countries, including the United States, dietary supplements are regulated more like food products than like pharmaceuticals. This means that while supplements must be safe to consume and their labeling must be truthful and not misleading, they do not require the same level of rigorous testing and approval that drugs do before they can be marketed. Consequently, there is a greater risk of contamination or mislabeling in the supplement market.
"Being a professional archer places individuals in a position of responsibility, whether or not they are regularly tested," commented Bruce Cull, NFAA Foundation President. "We encourage all athletes to prioritize their health and the integrity of the sport by always following the anti-doping code, even though testing may not be conducted at every event."
Anti-doping resources are public and available to all participants. Archers sign a waiver acknowledging the testing and anti-doping policies during the registration process. It is the archer's responsibility to use the vast resources at their disposal to ensure they are not putting themselves in harm’s way.
Read more about how to navigate safe choices. For further information on anti-doping guidelines and safe supplement choices, please see the links below.