The New Zealand Sports Drug Agency (NZSD) and the New Zealand Federation of Body Builders (NZFBB) have reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Respondent after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Furosemide.
After notification by the NZFBB the Respondent filed a statement in her defence and was heard for the Sports Disputes Tribunal of New Zealand.
The athlete explained to the Tribunal that she was not aware that the diuretic was on the list and she had not used it for any enhancement purposes but rather to manage a fluid retention problem from which she was suffering prior to the championships. She had apologised to the sport and its administrators and she accepted her transgression. She made an early decision not to compete in the National Championships nor in any other event pending the outcome of the Tribunal’s deliberations.
The Sports Disputes Tribunal of New Zealand finds that the Respondent had committed an anti-doping rule violation in relation to the presence of the substance Furosemide in her sample.
The Tribunal decides to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Respondent starting from 10 july 2004. Medals or trophies collected by the Respondent during the competition on 10 July 2004 shall be returned immediately to the NZFBB. The Respondent is prohibited from competing or officiating at any NZFBB or IFBB events during the period of the ineligibility.
