The Hellenic National Council for Combating Doping (ESKAN) has reported in February 2012 an anti-doping rule violation against the Player after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (nandrolone).
In April 2012 the Hellenic Basketball Federation Judicial Panel decided to impose these sanctions on the Player:
- prohibition of participation to every kind of athletic meetings and organisations of all sports for 3 months;
- a fine of 3000 Euros; and
- deduction and exclusion from participation to the administration, institution or committee of any athletic institution or athletes’ club for 1 year.
After notification by FIBA the Player filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the FIBA Disciplinary Panel in June 2012.
The Player stated he was treated in 2011 for a serious foot injury. After 3 months of continuous pain the Player’s orthopaedic surgeon administered him Decadurabolin (nandrolone) without any indication that it contained a prohibited substance. These facts were confirmed in a written statement by his surgeon.
The Panel concludes that the positive finding is caused by the injection of Player’s surgeon during the last stage of his rehabilitation from his foot injury. The Panel finds that the Player bears the consequences for his surgeon’s failure to mention the content of the administered medication.
Considering Player’s statement and the circumstances the FIBA Disciplinary Panel decides a 22 month period of ineligibility starting on the date of his provisional suspension, i.e. on 22 March 2012.
