Related cases:
IRB 2012 IRB vs Dyland Coetzee
August 27, 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 Michael Chirara after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone (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 indicated that he wished to provide substantial assistance. He stated that he had used the products Deca-Durabolin (Nandrolone) and Proviron (Mesterolon). The doping product were provided by AB, a friend and training partner of the rugby player Dyland Coetzee. Coetzee also tested positive and testified about the doping involvement of his training partner AB.
The Judicial Committee considers that the assistance provided by the Athlete Chirara has been genuine and his explanations for the delay in providing that information are largely credible. The Committee holds that the provided information enabled the IRB to notify the rugby player AB and to provisionally suspend him from rugby pending further proceedings against him for his doping involvement.
On the contrary the Committee finds that the Athlete’s violation was very serious and that he acted at best recklessly indifferent due to he accepted AB’s assurances about the safe use of the product and he systematically used Nandrolone in order to enhance his sport performance.
Therefore the IRB Judicial Committee decides on 8 March 2013 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 15 June 2012.
6 months of the sanction will be imposed as suspended sanction due to the Athlete’s substantial assistance.
