Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Respondent after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 1-3 dimethylpentylamine (Methylhexaneamine). After the notification a provisional suspension was ordered. Respondent filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the Tribunal.
Respondent admitted the violation and gave evidence he took a supplement before going to do weight lifting at a friend’s place and that the supplement was the cause of the positive test. Respondent said he took the supplement to assist in his weight training. He mentioned to some of his rugby league team mates at training that he had taken the supplement the day before and they told him it contained a banned substance, something he said he was unaware of at the time. He played the match the next day.
The Tribunal rules “by a very fine margin” that Respondent had not intended to enhance his sports performance. The Tribunal considers there was a high degree of fault in this case. There was a total lack of enquiry by Respondent about the supplement; he knew before he took the field that the supplement contained a prohibited substance, yet he took the field; and, despite some conflict in evidence, it is apparent he was warned of the dangers of that particular supplement in an anti-doping presentation by the team manager.
Considering the mitigating factors in Respondent’s case the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand decides to impose a 12 month period of ineligibility on the Respondent starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 30 September 2011.
