French Olympic fencer Ysaora Thibus has been cleared of a doping charge after a surprising reason was accepted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The court said Thibus tested positive for a banned drug because she kissed her then-boyfriend, Race Imboden, who was using that drug at the time.

Thibus, who helped France win a silver medal in the team foil event at the Tokyo Olympics, had tested positive for ostarine—a substance that helps build muscles. The test was done during a fencing competition in Paris in January 2024.

However, after carefully reviewing the case, CAS decided that Thibus did not take the drug on purpose. The court accepted that the drug entered her system accidentally through repeated kissing with Imboden, who was using ostarine himself.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had tried to get Thibus banned for four years. But CAS rejected WADA’s appeal and supported an earlier decision by the International Fencing Federation’s disciplinary panel. That panel had already ruled that Thibus was not at fault.

Many people have compared this case to one involving French tennis player Richard Gasquet in 2009. Gasquet also tested positive for drugs, but was cleared after saying the drug got into his system from kissing someone at a nightclub.

Because of the first ruling that cleared her, Thibus was able to take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She competed in front of her home crowd and helped the French team finish fifth in the team foil event.