Related case:
IRB 2012 IRB vs Simbarashe Michael Chirara
March 8, 2013
IRB 2012 IRB vs Ian Wilson Muza
February 13, 2013
In June 2012 the Zimbabwe Rugby Union has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Junior Athlete Dyland Coetzee after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone).
The Athlete was one of the three members of the Zimbabwe rugby team who tested positive at the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2012 in Utah, USA.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Judicial Committee of the International Rugby Board (IRB).
The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that the positive test result was caused by the powder he had used, mixed with water, and consumed on multiple occasions over a number of weeks.
The white powder Deca was provided to him by his friend AB and training partner and purchased in South Africa. The Athlete didn’t research into the product Deca before using because het trusted his training partner AB. The Athlete accepted an offer to provide substantial assistance about the involvement of the his training partner AB for a possible reduction of the sanction.
The Judicial Committee finds that the Athlete systematically used an anabolic steroid during which time he observed changes in his physique. There can be no question that he used the substance (whether he knew what it was or not) in order to enhance his sport performance. He was at best recklessly indifferent when he failed to inquire into what Deca contained.
Therefore the IRB Judicial Committee decides on 31 January 2013 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 22 June 2012.
6 months of the sanction will be impose as suspended sanction due to the Athlete’s substantial assistance.
REVISION
Hereafter in June 2013 the IRB reported that after numerous efforts the Athlete failed to provide an affidavit as substantial assistance about the involvement of his training partner AB.
Therefore the IRB requested the IRB Judicial Committee to reinstate the suspended sanction period of 6 months.
The IRB Judicial Committee decides on 27 August 2017 to impose the full 2 year period of ineligiblility on the Athlete starting on 22 June 2012 and ending until and including 21 June 2014.
