US Cycling Athlete, Joseph Papp, Accepts Sanction For Doping Violation

USADA announced today that Joseph Papp, of Bethel Park, Pa., an athlete in the sport of cycling, has received an eight-year sanction for his second anti-doping rule violation.

This non-analytical anti-doping rule violation is a result of Papp distributing banned performance-enhancing drugs on behalf of a Chinese drug distributor via the Internet for which he was also charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for violations of federal law. Papp pled guilty to two felony charges as a result.  This is Papp’s second anti-doping rules violation as he tested positive for a prohibited substance and received a two-year sanction in May 2006.

Papp, 36, received a reduction to an eight-year sanction in accordance with the rules since he has provided substantial assistance to anti-doping authorities, sharing information about ongoing criminal activity as well as potential anti-doping rule violations by athletes under USADA’s jurisdiction and/or the jurisdiction of other anti-doping organizations.

As a result of USADA’s sanction, Papp was also disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to January 1, 2007, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes. Papp’s period of ineligibility began on September 1, 2007, the day he accepted a provisional sanction and began providing assistance under the rules, and will end on August 31, 2015.