Jara MacDermott Accepts Sanction
Weightlifter Jara MacDermott accepted a two-year ban for testing positive for testosterone, amphetamine, and canrenone at a 2025 competition, with results disqualified back to 2018.
Jara MacDermott, a 50-year-old weightlifter from Kensington, Md., has been sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for multiple prohibited substances. The violations were confirmed through a urine sample collected at the United Masters Weightlifting Federation World Championships on December 4, 2025, which revealed the presence of canrenone, amphetamine, and testosterone or its metabolites. USADA conducted the testing under World Anti-Doping Agency standards, using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry to confirm the synthetic origin of the substances.
The prohibited substances identified—spironolactone (a diuretic and masking agent), amphetamine (a stimulant), and testosterone (an anabolic agent)—are banned under USADA’s protocols, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s anti-doping policy, and the International Weightlifting Federation’s rules. USADA determined that MacDermott was using the substances under medical supervision but failed to obtain a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), which would have allowed her to use them legally. As a result, her sanction was reduced from the default four-year ban to two years based on the specific circumstances of her case.
MacDermott’s two-year ineligibility period began on December 23, 2025, the date her provisional suspension was imposed. Additionally, she has been disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and after June 1, 2018, including the forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes earned during that period. The sanction reflects USADA’s commitment to maintaining fair competition by enforcing anti-doping rules consistently across all levels of sport.
USADA provides extensive educational resources to help athletes, coaches, and medical professionals understand anti-doping regulations, including guidance on prohibited substances, therapeutic exemptions, and the risks of supplements and performance-enhancing drugs. The agency also operates a drug reference hotline (GlobalDRO.com), conducts educational sessions, and offers tools for reporting doping violations. Tips can be submitted anonymously through the USADA Play Clean Tip Center or via phone, email, or mail, supporting efforts to protect clean athletes and preserve the integrity of sport.