The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that Rizelyx Rivera (Puerto Rico) tested positive during an in-competition drug test at the 2015 USA Weightlifting National Championships. The American Arbitration Association (AAA) reduced the sanction to a 1-year suspension after a July 25, 2016 hearing in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.
Rivera submitted the sample on August 15, 2015 following her competition. Rivera’s sample tested positive for noroxycodone and oxymorphone, metabolites of oxycodone. Rivera explained in a written letter to USADA that she did not realize that the medicine (Percocet) she received from her grandmother would violate USADA rules and the intent was not to improve her performance at the USAW National Championships.
Rivera finished 6th in the 63kg weight class at the 2015 USAW National Championships with a 182kg total. Rivera competed for Team USA at the 2011 IWF World Championships and the 2012 Pan-American Championships.
