In November 2016 the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the 68 year old cyclist after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Testosterone with a T/E ratio in a high concentration above the WADA threshold.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Doping Tribunal of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).
The Athlete claimed that he did not commit an anti-doping rule violation and stated that he is very careful with his diet as well as his vitamins and supplement intake. He didn't understand how the prohibited substance entered his body since he never took doping substances. He believed his age may have impacted his T/E ratio.
Professor Ayotte dismissed as expert witness the Athlete’s age as potentially influcencing the T/E ratio and reiterated that IRMS clearly demonstrated the isotopic signature of exogenous testosterone.
The Sole Arbitrator could not determine the Athlete’s intent nor could the Athlete establish how the exogenous testosterone entered his system and concludes that the Athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation.
Therefore the SDRCC Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 22 March 2017 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 11 October 2016.
