Fencer's Winning Doping Defense: Too Many Kisses

A top world fencer has been cleared of doping allegations thanks to her unusual explanation for a positive test: kisses. Ysaora Thibus, an Olympian and former world champion, tested positive in January 2024 for the banned drug ostarine, reports USA Today. Thibus denied taking the drug and blamed regular kissing with her then-partner, US fencer Race Imboden, who she said was taking the drug without her knowledge. A disciplinary panel cleared Thibus, but the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed that decision. Now, the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland has ruled in the athlete's favor, per the Washington Post.

"It is scientifically established that the intake of an ostarine dose similar to the dose ingested by Ms Thibus' then partner would have left sufficient amounts of ostarine in the saliva to contaminate a person through kissing," the court ruled. Thibus, 33, faced a four-year ban from the sport if found guilty.