TORONTO — Briane Harris, the lead for Team Kerri Einarson, is currently waiting for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to make a decision regarding her doping appeal. According to Amanda Fowler, the Toronto-based lawyer representing Harris alongside Emir Crowne, the CAS is expected to release its decision in October. The appeal followed a provisional suspension imposed after Harris tested positive for a banned substance.
The doping case revolves around Harris testing positive for Ligandrol, a prohibited substance, during an out-of-competition test conducted on January 24. The results were disclosed to Harris on February 15, just before her team’s first game at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Ligandrol is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency due to its muscle-building properties. Despite Harris’s B-sample also testing positive in March, her legal team argues that the substance may have been introduced into her system unintentionally.
The nature of the suspension is significant, with a potential ban of up to four years on the table. However, the final decision could vary based on the specifics of Harris’s case and any mitigating circumstances. Harris’s legal team maintains that the curler was likely exposed to the banned substance inadvertently, possibly through physical contact with someone else.
In a rare occurrence for the sport, Harris’s case has drawn considerable attention. Curling Canada’s CEO, Nolan Thiessen, has stated that the organization will respect whatever legal ruling is handed down. During Harris’s suspension, which prohibits her from competing, training, and interacting with her teammates and coach, Team Einarson has had to adjust. Krysten Karwacki stepped in for Harris during the 2024 national playdowns, where the team’s streak of four consecutive Scotties titles came to an end.
Harris’s situation has some parallels with the case of Canadian canoeist Laurence Vincent Lapointe, who faced a similar issue with Ligandrol. Vincent Lapointe’s provisional suspension was later overturned when it was proven that the substance was transferred via bodily fluids from a former partner. Vincent Lapointe, who has expressed support for Harris, serves as a glimmer of hope that Harris’s appeal could result in a favorable outcome.
As the 2024-25 curling season gets underway, Canadian teams are focused on qualifying for the Canadian Curling Trials in November 2025. This event will be pivotal for those aiming to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Despite the challenges, Team Kerri Einarson remains a strong competitor, with Karwacki filling in and the team ranked ninth in the world ahead of the Saville Shootout in Edmonton.