The team led by the international sports lawyer Zsigmond Nagy achieved almost unprecedented success, and the junior European championship silver medalist, Hungarian champion, age group leader and national team swimmer was finally cleared of doping charges.

After analyzing the legal defense of the Hungarian expert team, the International Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday withdrew its appeal to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the doping case of junior European championship silver medalist Laura Ilyés. The athlete's final doping accusation, based on his biological passport, proved to be completely unfounded.

The announcement of the Hungarian Federation (MÚSZ) on Monday highlights:

with this, they conclusively and legally recognized that Ilyés had never committed a doping offense, had always competed cleanly, did not use any illegal performance-enhancing substances or methods, and dropped the charges brought against him.

Due to legal restrictions, the name of the Hungarian champion and age-group leader could not be known to the general public until now, however, following the official information from the CAS on Monday, Laura Ilyés herself wanted to inform the public and the actors of Hungarian sports that the accusations brought against her are untrue and legally unfounded. , i.e. there can be no doubt about his innocence and purity, the announcement reads.

The competitor indicated that he received the first letter in the matter on the first of September last year, and since he knew that he had never touched a prohibited substance or used a prohibited method, he did not even think that he might have a problem. Then

In November 2022, he won the short-track Hungarian championship in the 200-meter butterfly, achieving the best result of his career, "he broke this momentum when he was suspended."

He said that he was exonerated in the first instance in May, so he was able to return, but three days before the World University Games in August, WADA appealed to the CAS. He emphasized that the proceedings against him, which had been going on for more than a year, were both physically and mentally taxing, he could not plan because he did not know what awaited him the next day.

Following WADA's appeal, CAS gave Ilyés barely 20 days to respond, prepare and submit his defense. This was prepared and submitted to CAS by the team of experts behind the float. The court has already set the date for the hearing, but after two months of analysis, WADA unilaterally and with immediate effect withdrew its appeal and dropped the charges against Laura Ilyés.

The Hungarian association notes:

it is almost unprecedented that the anti-doping agency did not even wait for the trial in cases brought before the CAS and withdrew.

"In addition to the fact that we are extremely happy, the case also provides a lot of additional lessons," stated Sándor Wladár, president of MÚSZ.

"The team of experts did a fantastic job, besides the international lawyer Zsigmond Nagy, the doctors involved in the case helped Laura to clarify with extraordinary thoroughness and professional preparation, e-mails arrived more than once at midnight, with incredibly precise and detailed analyses, in connection with which the other side may deserve a series of consequences deduct," said the president in the statement.

Wladár highlighted that the MÚSZ tried to give the swimmer the greatest possible help in all aspects, and it is a huge satisfaction for all of them that it has now been definitively revealed:

Illy was "innocently accused, prepared and competed cleanly".

"I sincerely hope that you will be able to make your big dream come true and make it to the Olympic team," said the first man of MÚSZ.

Zsigmond Nagy said that the withdrawal of WADA's appeal proves the unquestionable innocence of Laura Ilyés, as well as the competence, professional credibility and advocacy power of the domestic experts vis-à-vis the International Anti-Doping Agency, which has been strengthened with Swiss lawyers. He added that the right legal strategy, tactics and professional credibility were of utmost importance on the road to success, which can serve as an example for all Hungarian athletes and sports managers. In addition, the case points to serious lessons, which may be particularly noteworthy for future Olympians preparing for Paris.

MTI

Photo: MTI / Anikó Kovács