Paralympic Medallist Schrager Hit With Two-Year Ban After Failed Test

Daphne Schrager has been handed a two-year ban following a positive test for a banned substance. The Paralympic medallist, who earned medals for Great Britain, immediately challenged the decision, insisting the violation was unintentional and that she "never cheated."

Schrager issued a statement confirming her innocence without elaborating on the specific circumstances of the test. Anti-doping cases operate under strict liability, so the presence of a prohibited substance triggers a sanction regardless of intent. A two-year suspension is the standard first-offence penalty under the WADA code unless an athlete can demonstrate no significant fault or negligence, which can reduce it to one year. Schrager described the violation as "unintentional," suggesting her legal team may build a defence around inadvertent ingestion. She intends to challenge the sanction, though no details on the substance or the appeal forum have been made public.

UK Anti-Doping confirmed the sanction but declined further comment while proceedings are ongoing. Schrager's absence creates a gap in the British Paralympic programme. Medallists are difficult to replace at this level, and a two-year ban consumes a disproportionate share of a career built around the four-year Games calendar, making any potential comeback dependent on timing relative to the next cycle.