GB Paralympic medallist Daphne Schrager has been handed a two-year ban from competition after a positive test for a banned substance. The cyclist, who secured a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, tested positive for Ligandrol, a substance known for its ability to selectively build muscle and bone mass. Schrager maintains her innocence, stating she has "never cheated" and that the positive result was unintentional.
The ban has been backdated to 2 June 2025, the date of her initial suspension, and is scheduled to end on 1 June 2027. This timeline suggests that Schrager could still be eligible to compete at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. However, the ruling has led to her exclusion from the England squad for the Commonwealth Games, which are currently underway in Glasgow.
The substance was detected after the 25-year-old underwent an out-of-competition test in 2025. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) reported that Schrager presented two possible scenarios for environmental contamination: either at a gym where she received a massage or at a shared home address. Despite her arguments, a UKAD tribunal concluded that while there was no evidence of intentional use, Schrager could not definitively prove the contamination was inadvertent and environmental.
In a detailed statement shared on Instagram, Schrager explained her efforts to prove her innocence, including paying for hair and nail analysis. She highlighted that the panel confirmed she did not intentionally use or ingest Ligandrol and acknowledged that a minute trace of the substance was responsible for the positive test. Schrager stressed that the detected amount, 0.0006ng, would have provided no performance advantage, and consequently, none of her previous results have been disqualified.
Schrager expressed the profound impact of the situation on her life, including losing her contract, team, and the structure that defined her identity. She described the effect on her mental health as "significant and at times overwhelming" but reiterated her determination to return to competition in 2027. Schrager, who has cerebral palsy, made history by winning Team GB's first medal at the 2024 Paralympics in the women's C1-3 3000m individual pursuit. She also secured two gold medals at the Para-cycling Road World Cup in May 2025, just a month before her suspension.