Federal prosecutors announced charges on Monday against a Texas man who allegedly supplied performance-enhancing drugs to athletes before the Summer Olympics last year.
Eric Lira, 41, a self-proclaimed “kinesiologist” and “naturopathic” therapist based in El Paso, is the first to be criminally charged under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, a 2020 law that aims to prevent doping schemes at international sporting events.
“The promise of the Olympic Games is a global message of unification. Today, this Office sends a strong message to those who would taint the Games and seek to profit from that corruption,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement.
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Prosecutors said Lira obtained misbranded versions of performance-enhancing drugs and other prescription drugs from Central America and South America before distributing them to two athletes in the United States.
The two athletes involved were not named, but text transactions included in the statement show conversations between “athlete 1” and Lira on June 22, 2021.
“Hola amigo. Eric my body feel so good. I just ran 10.63 in the 100m on Friday with a 2.7 wind. I am sooooo happy. Ericccccccc,” wrote “athlete 1” in statements obtained by prosecutors. “Whatever you did, is working so well.”
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In addition to being charged with one count of international sports doping, Lira is also charged with one count of conspiracy to violate U.S. drug misbranding and adulteration laws. He could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of both crimes.
