Tunnicliffe withdraws from Sailing World Cup Miami after WADA rebuff

by US Sailing/Sail-World on 24 Jan 2017 Olympic Champion Anna Tunnicliffe (Pittsburgh, Penn.) has withdrawn from competing in the Laser Radial class at Sailing World Cup Miami 2017, due to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s denial of her expedited request to return to active status in January of 2017.

On Tuesday morning, Tunnicliffe received word from WADA officials that in their judgement, and according to Article 5.7.1 of the World Anti-Doping Code, not enough time had transpired from the time of her un-retirement request to the date of her first competition.

Tunnicliffe has instead been cleared to compete starting on July 6, 2017. Tunnicliffe had the full support of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), World Sailing and US Sailing in her effort to receive an exemption and return to active competition this week.

After competing in two Olympics, 2008 (Laser Radial/Gold Medal) and 2012 (Womens Match Racing), Tunnicliffe switched to the 49erFX class in 2013, before joining the Extreme Sailing Series as part of the Alinghi team. She also embarked on a successful foray into Crossfit, the extreme fitness sporting competition, beginning in 2011. She has competed in three Crossfit Games, placing in the top 22 in each with a best placing of ninth in 2013. She still participates in, and coaches Crossfit.

Tunnicliffe had planned to return to Olympic-level sailing in Miami after a three-year retirement, during which time she was no longer requested to submit to the regular anti-doping tests that top Olympic athletes receive. As part of her effort to return to racing, Tunnicliffe worked with USADA to receive all necessary forms of testing, and upon completion of that process was given the support of USADA, World Sailing and US Sailing to apply for an un-retirement exemption from WADA that would allow her to return to active status on an expedited timetable. This exemption would have allowed her to compete in Miami in January 2017.

'Anna followed all the necessary steps to return to racing, and we are saddened and disappointed that her return will not come in Miami, as we had all hoped,' said Malcolm Page, Chief of U.S. Olympic Sailing. 'We respect WADA's decision while fully supporting the steps Anna has taken in her un-retirement process. She complied with all testing requirements, and it is unfortunate that she will not be able to compete due to a technicality. Anna is a legend in our sport, and a role model for all American sailors. Her presence has been enormously positive for our team this year, and we hope to see her back on the racecourse as soon as possible.'

No reason has been given for declining her request, but given that it is the start of the 2020 Olympic cycle, a resumption in July would probably not be seen as a major set back for Tunnicliffe's 2020 Olympic aspirations. It appears that the exceptional grounds for the expedited request do not apply in Tunnicliffe's current competitive situation.