Eric Lira, Rodchenkov Act Violation, New York 2024

Eric Lira, a 43-year-old kinesiologist and naturopathic doctor from El Paso, Texas, has become the first defendant to be charged and convicted under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act. Lira pleaded guilty to violating the act in Manhattan Federal Court on an undisclosed date.

According to the allegations, Lira provided banned performance-enhancing drugs, including human growth hormone and erythropoietin, to Olympic athletes in advance of the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo in the summer of 2021. Lira obtained the drugs from sources in Central and South America and distributed them to athletes competing for Nigeria and Switzerland.

The Rodchenkov Act, signed into law on December 4, 2020, prohibits any person from knowingly carrying out or conspiring to carry out a scheme to influence international sports competitions using prohibited substances or methods. Lira's actions were in direct violation of this law.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the FBI's Integrity in Sports and Gaming Initiative for their role in uncovering Lira's scheme. Williams also thanked the United States Anti-Doping Agency for their support of the investigation.

Lira's guilty plea carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years in prison. The exact sentence will be determined by a judge at a later date.

This conviction is a significant milestone in the fight against doping in international sports. It serves as a reminder that those who attempt to undermine the integrity of sports will be held accountable for their actions.

The case is being handled by the Office's Money Laundering and Transnational Crimes Unit. Lira's case highlights the importance of protecting the integrity of international sports competitions and ensuring a level playing field for all athletes.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/first-defendant-charged-violating-anti-doping-act-pleads-guilty-manhattan-federal-court