[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] Tandara Caixeta (33), an attacker of the Brazilian women's volleyball national team who returned home abruptly due to doping detection, has pleaded her innocence.
On the 7th (Korean time), Caixeta's lawyer stated in a letter released through Reuters that "it will prove that the banned substance accidentally entered Caixeta's body." He added, "We believe that Caixeta did not use the substance to enhance her performance," and "Recently, many Brazilian athletes have become victims of incidents related to Ostarine."
Ostarine is the banned substance detected in Caixeta's body in this doping scandal. This substance is a type of drug used for muscle growth and improving athletic performance, mainly known to be used by bodybuilders.
Earlier, Caixeta was confirmed positive for doping ahead of the women's volleyball semifinals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was unable to participate in the match against Korea, returning home instead. The Brazilian Olympic Committee also stated, "Caixeta has committed a potential doping violation," and "She will not participate in the remaining matches and will return to Brazil."
At that time, local Brazilian media reported, "Caixeta tested positive in a drug test conducted by the Brazilian Anti-Doping Commission (ABCD) on July 7, prior to participating in the Tokyo Olympics." They added, "Caixeta's athlete status was immediately suspended, and she was sent back home."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
