31 March 2025, Lausanne – The Aquatics Integrity Unit (AQIU) takes note of the decision of the International Testing Agency (ITA) concerning USA swimmer Arabella Sims regarding her positive test of 29 September 2024 for the prohibited substance hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). The ITA determined that she bears no fault or negligence. As a result, no sanction has been imposed by the ITA.

The AQIU notes that after a thorough review of the case, the ITA concluded that the positive test resulted from a contaminated medication used by Ms. Sims to treat an injury. The ITA found that there was nothing that Ms. Sims could have done to prevent the positive test. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the medication in the USA, and Ms. Sims could not have expected that it could be contaminated with a prohibited substance. Moreover, Ms. Sims declared the use of this medication on the doping control form at the time of sample collection.

The ITA’s news release on the matter is available here.