From Ottawa, CAN
Note: This post has been updated with a statement from Christine de Bruin
(November 4, 2022) – Olympic bronze medalist Christine de Bruin has been suspended from bobsled for three years after testing positive for LGD-4033, better known as Ligandrol.
The monobob Olympic bronze medalist was tested on August 28, and on September 27 she was notified of an anti-doping violation. Per a release by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), de Bruin signed an Early Admission and Acceptance Agreement regarding the violation, which accepted responsibility and the period of suspension. In turn, the four-year suspension was dropped to three.
In a statement provided to Sliding On Ice (full text below), de Bruin stated that she only signed the Admission and Acceptance Agreement due to lacking the financial means to fight the suspension.
During the time of her suspension, de Bruin will not be able to participate with Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton or any other sports team that falls under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. That participation includes any training. She will be eligible to rejoin the team on September 27, 2025, in time for the final season leading to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina.
With de Bruin out of competition, Cynthia Appiah becomes the two top women’s pilot on the Canadian squad. During the 2022 Olympics, Appiah finished eighth in both monobob and two-woman bobsled.
A statement by de Bruin was provided to Sliding On Ice, and is being reprinted in its entirety:
I appreciate and respect the need to have tough rules to keep the playing field clean, however, I signed the Early Admission and Acceptance Agreement on October 21, 2022, thereby admitting to the violation, because I simply do not have the financial means to fight it.
I truly believe in clean sport and have always sought to compete while respecting the rules of clean sport and fair play.
I have always considered competing for Canada and wearing the maple leaf on my suit around the world as an absolute privilege, and I woudl never do anything intentionally to jeopardize this honour.
I am not sure of my future plans at this time. I will be taking some time to surround myself around family and friends while I process this difficult information. I think you for respecting my privacy.
Thank you,
Christine
Further Reading
File Outcome Summary – Christine de Bruin (per CCES)
