Details on FIDE Dope Panel

More details of the FIDE Doping Hearing Panel, which came out as a result of that doping scandal involving GM Ivanchuk, have now been released, courtesy of ICC journo Macauley Peterson.

The basic argument in Ivanchuk’s defense was as follows: After the final round match pitting the United States against Ukraine, Ivanchuk, who had lost to Gata Kamsky, was approached by International Arbiter Abraham Dorner (Israel), who informed him of the need for a drug test. Although the match selection and board number had been randomly determined in advance in accordance with FIDE regulations, no “Doping Control Officer” was present along with Mr. Dorner, therefore Ivanchuk had technically not “refused” a drug testing request.

There's more over on Macauley's blog.