Vancouver, Canada (October 6, 2009) -The International Triathlon Union (ITU) today announced it has imposed a six-year ban on Mariana Ohata a triathlete from Brazil, after committing an anti-doping rule violation in an out-of-competition doping control test in Iowa, United States on June 26, 2009.

The ban begins October 2, 2009 and prohibits Ohata from entering or participating in any competition or activity authorized by ITU, its National Federations (NFs) and/or any other signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code. This is the athlete's second anti-doping rule violation. In 2002, Ohata was sanctioned to a 60 week ban from competition by the Brazilian Sport Court of the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation.

Ohata's anti-doping rule violation was a result of an adverse analytical finding of furosemide, a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List, Section S5 - Diuretics and Masking Agents.

Following the notification of the adverse analytical finding of her "A" sample, Ohata exercised her right under the ITU Doping Rules to have the "B" sample opened.

The "B" sample was opened and analyzed using the ISO accredited methods. On August 21, the analytical result confirmed the "A" sample and presence of furosemide in the urine. In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, ITU imposed the minimum six-year ban on Ohata for a second anti-doping violation.

Ohata has competed in two Olympic Games (Athens and Beijing) and has achieved multiple international wins and podium placings during her triathlon career.

ITU is strongly committed to maintaining the integrity of the sport by ensuring athletes are competing on a level-playing field by abiding to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code to help keep triathlon clean. The ITU Anti-Doping Rules are written in compliance with the WADA Code. For a National Federation (NF) to be affiliated with ITU, it must abide by the WADA Code and ITU Rules.

About International Triathlon Union (ITU):
The International Triathlon Union is the world governing body for the Olympic sport of Triathlon and all related MultiSport disciplines: Duathlon, Aquathlon and Winter Triathlon. ITU was founded in 1989 at the first ITU Congress in Avignon, France and has maintained its headquarters in Vancouver, Canada since then. It now has over 120 affiliated National Federations around the world and is the youngest International Federation in the Olympics. Triathlon was awarded Olympic status in 1994. ITU is proudly committed to supporting the development of the sport worldwide through strong relationships with continental and national federations, working with its partners to offer a balanced sport development programme from grassroots to a high-performance level. For more information, visit: www.triathlon.org