Conor Dwyer Announced Retirement after a Ban takes him Out of Tokyo Olympics

“It has been an incredible ride and I have accomplished more than my wildest dreams,” he wrote. “It was an honor to represent my country alongside my teammates. … This is an unfortunate end to an incredible chapter of my life. I believe that things happen for a reason, and I can’t wait to share with you all the next chapter of my life.”

Dwyer was reported of being unhealthy after the Rio Olympics. He eventually underwent a hormone replacement therapy and had the pellets surgically implanted in October 2018. The panel wrote that “he was not concerned with his swimming performance, but rather his overall mental health and well-being.” Dwyer didn’t realize at the time that the procedure violated anti-doping policies and would result in a positive test, according to the panel’s findings.

In a statement Friday evening, Dwyer said he made “an honest and unfortunate mistake,” and said his physician had assured him the treatment was legal. “Absent of these assurances, I never would have agreed to this medically necessary statement,” he said.

USADA’s chief executive Travis Tygart said in a statement: “As noted in the Panel’s decision, USADA is independent of sport and here to help athletes ensure they compete clean and protect their health and well-being within the rules, It’s frustrating that Mr. Dwyer did not take advantage of this support and hopefully this case will convince others to do so in order to protect fair and healthy competition for all athletes.”