Upon receiving an unexpected email from World Curling in February 2024, Briane Harris hesitated to open it, perceiving it as suspicious.
Believing it could be spam, she opted to attend a Calgary Flames game with her teammates, led by Kerri Einarson, the four-time national champions, on the eve of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
The following morning, Harris received another email from the federation, which appeared more authentic.
Upon opening it, Harris was shocked to discover that her out-of-competition urine sample had shown trace amounts of Ligandrol, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency due to its muscle-building properties.
Expressing disbelief, Harris stated, “I had not seen that coming in a million years because obviously I wasn’t doping.”
Subsequently placed under provisional suspension, Harris embarked on a nearly year-long process that involved appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, ultimately leading to a determination that she held “no fault or negligence” for the violation.
In January, her suspension was lifted, prompting her departure from the Einarson team after seven years to join Team Kate Cameron as the third.
In an interview, Harris expressed, “I just feel like a weight has been lifted off me and I am so excited for the future.”
‘Accidental Exposure’
Harris claimed that she unknowingly came into contact with Ligandrol through intimate interactions with her husband. Initially puzzled by the positive test results, her husband later discovered a possible connection.
According to Harris, her husband had been using a supplement called the “CrossFit Stack” from November 2023 to January 2024, which he kept in his gym bag and not at home.
Harris argued that she was unaware of her husband consuming Ligandrol or the risk of contamination through intimate contact with prohibited substances.
Citing the case of Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, who faced a similar situation in 2019, Harris found support and guidance from her experience.
In the midst of her suspension in Calgary, Harris was prohibited from interacting with her teammates or practicing on the ice, leading her to seek legal assistance for an unexpected off-ice challenge.
Resuming Competition
After a hearing in August, it took nearly five months for CAS to render its decision.
Relieved by the outcome, Harris stated, “We got the best result, the one that we wanted with zero fault and zero negligence.”
Throughout the fall, Harris diligently trained in her home gym, eagerly anticipating a return to competitive play with her team.
Expressing the emotional strain of uncertainty, she said, “I would be crying [while] working out just because it was just so mentally hard to work toward something, [to] try to be ready to play when you don’t know what the verdict is going to be.”
Despite being five months pregnant when her suspension was lifted, Harris remained determined to be prepared for competition at any time.
Upon receiving the positive news, she informed her teammates via a group chat while they were competing at a Grand Slam in Guelph, Ont., who extended their congratulations.
During her absence, Krysten Karwacki filled in, and newcomer Karlee Burgess played second due to Shannon Birchard’s injury.
Expressing her eagerness to rejoin the team, Harris stated, “I totally wanted to return to the team. That’s what I wanted to do. I knew I was ready and I knew I was able.”
Following the bonspiel, the Einarson rink decided to maintain the current lineup for the sake of consistency.
Exclusion from Scotties Team
Lauren Lenentine was added as an alternate for the 2025 Scotties, despite Harris not being included in the lineup, emphasizing her continued involvement with Team Einarson.
Reflecting on her departure, Harris shared, “I grew as a player and I’m really grateful for all of that, the experience and everything that I got to take from it. And now I get to take all that and apply it to Team Cameron.”
Her formal exit from the team was announced via social media, coinciding with her introduction to Cameron’s foursome on the same day.
Three members of Team Einarson declined interview requests regarding the transition.
Harris concluded, “Hopefully I can be a good addition to their
