Bella Sims Found No Fault for Positive Test in September
The International Testing Agency on Monday released a finding of no fault for American swimmer Bella Sims after she tested positive for a banned diuretic in September. The adjudication carries no penalty of ineligibility.
Sims, a University of Florida swimmer, was tested out-of-competition on Sept. 29, 2024. She returned an adverse analytical finding of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). Sims’ positive, however, was determined to have been caused by contamination of an anti-inflammatory prescription medication which did not list HCTZ as an ingredient and should not have included HCTZ in it.
From the ITA’s press release:
During the results management proceedings, the athlete was able to establish that the presence of HCTZ in her sample was caused by the intake of an anti-inflammatory prescription medication, which was confirmed to be contaminated with the banned diuretic. This permitted medication did not list HCTZ on its label, or any other prohibited substances. However, laboratory analyses subsequently conducted on the medication tablets confirmed the HCTZ contamination.
Sims successfully proved contamination. She accepted the ADRV finding, and the ITA and World Aquatics are closing the case with this public disclosure. (WADA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency have the ability to appeal if they choose to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.)
Diuretics like HCTZ are banned at all times, in and out of competition, listed under Class S5. They can be used as masking agents for drugs in the system or to facilitate clearing of drugs illegally in an athlete’s system.
Sims just completed her sophomore year in Gainesville. The native of Henderson, Nev., made the Olympics in 2021, winning a silver medal in the 800 free relay. She fall shy of qualification for Paris at the 2024 Olympics Trials.
As a freshman in 2024, Sims won the 200 free and 500 free at NCAAs. She also led Florida to the title in the 800 free relay and finished third in the 200 back, being named SEC Female Swimmer of the Year. At NCAAs this month, Sims finished second in the 100 back, second in the 200 back and 17th in the 500 free.
