Fact
The International Rugby Board (IRB) alleges Miguel Ángel Garcés van Heurck and Paolo Urquieta Ruiz (the players) for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules. On 10 March 2012 they each underwent in-competition doping control. Analysis of the samples provided by the Players disclosed the presence of Methylhexaneamine (“MHA”), which is listed in category S6. Stimulants on the 2012 List of Prohibited Substances published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”).
History
The players participated in the Las Vegas Invitational Seven-a-Side Rugby Tournament which took place from 7 – 10 February 2012. While in Las Vegas, they visited a store which sold (Sports) supplements. There they purchased a product called “HemoRage”. They were told it was “good”.
The players were responsible for what product they use but they never received the IRB Anti-Doping Handbook in Spanish.
The use of the supplement was used for recovery, they didn't intent to enhance their sport performance.
Decision
On 10 March 2012 each of the Players committed an anti-doping rule violation, namely the presence in their bodily samples of Methylhexaneamine. Methylhexaneamine is a Prohibited Substance under both Regulation 21 and the World Anti Doping Code.
The sanction imposed for these anti-doping rule violations is a period of Ineligibility of 12 months for each of the Players, commencing 2 May 2012 (the date upon which the Players were notified of the Adverse Analytical Finding and provisionally suspended) and concluding on (but inclusive of 1 May 2013).
