The multiple Polish champion, and Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympian returned an adverse analytical finding for Hydrochlorothiazide – banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) because of its use as a mask for performance enhancing drugs – and Chlorothiazide in a urine sample provided on April 19.

The athlete subsequently attended a hearing and provided evidence to explain how the substance had entered his body.

The hearing panel was satisfied that he did not take the substance to enhance his performance or mask the use of a performance enhancing substance, but in accordance with the IPC Anti-Doping Code was hit with the suspension and will lose all medals, points and prizes gained at the competition.

Okoniewski received no financial sanctions.

"The principle of strict liability applies to anti-doping matters," read an IPC statement.

"Therefore, each athlete is strictly liable for the substances found in his or her sample.

"An anti-doping rule violation occurs whenever a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) is found in his or her bodily specimen, whether or not the athlete intentionally or unintentionally used a prohibited substance or was negligent or otherwise at fault."

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