Briane Harris, the curler recently exonerated after nearly a year-long provisional suspension for doping, has officially filed a complaint with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), according to two sources familiar with the matter. On February 7, the 10‑page complaint was submitted to WADA’s Montreal headquarters, in which Harris contends that the CCES failed to comply with the WADA Code.
The CCES—an independent body administering Canada’s anti-doping program—is now under scrutiny. Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity since the complaint remains confidential, explained that the complaint arose following the receipt of Harris’s test results on the eve of the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
A four-time national champion and the lead curler on Kerri Einarson’s team, Harris was cleared in January by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which concluded that she had neither committed any fault nor demonstrated negligence regarding a doping violation in January 2024. Harris had initially tested positive for a trace amount of ligandrol, a substance banned by WADA due to its anabolic effects, and maintained that she was exposed through incidental contact with another person.
According to the complaint, events escalated after her lawyers, Emir Crowne and Amanda Fowler, informed both the CCES and World Curling on February 19, 2024, about an alarming leak of personal information two days earlier on Reddit. In the dedicated curling section of the social platform, a user claimed to have insider details – citing a friend working at CCES as their source. The complaint, which includes email exchanges between Harris’s attorneys and CCES Director General Jeremy Luke, a Reddit discussion thread, and screenshots of deleted posts, asserts that the leaked content appeared to be authentic according to Harris’s lawyers.
The complaint further explains that the CCES, relying on an internal investigation, dismissed the possibility that an employee had publicly shared this information. Harris is now calling for a comprehensive independent investigation and demands to be informed of its findings. Her legal team argues that allowing CCES to self-investigate and exonerate itself justifies external oversight by WADA.
In an email response on Monday, a WADA spokesperson stated that after a meticulous review, the agency decided not to appeal the CAS decision in Harris’s case. WADA has not yet commented on the possibility of opening a separate inquiry related to the complaint.
Established in 2003, the World Anti-Doping Code harmonizes the policies, rules, and regulations of sports organizations and public authorities worldwide, as detailed on WADA’s website.
Harris declined an interview request, and it remains unclear if the 32‑year‑old curler will return to competition. Meanwhile, her team—currently ranked second in Canada behind Canadian champion Rachel Homan’s squad—has resorted to calling in replacements due to injuries. Regular lead Krysten Karwacki is fulfilling her role, while Karlee Burgess joined mid‑season as Shannon Birchard remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Einarson’s team is already qualified for the upcoming Olympic trials in November, through which the winners will represent Canada at the 2026 Games.
