Mr. Richard Meeker (the Respondent) is a 51-year old member of USA Cycling who has been competing as an amateur cyclist for over 35 years.
USADA has reported an anti-doping rule violation against Respondent after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone. USADA notified the person of the doping violation and ordered a provisional suspension.
The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the North American Court of Arbitration for Sport (NACAS) on 22 October 2013.
Respondent stated that the positive test may have been caused by his use of dietary supplement that he purchased and used prior to his positive test. Prior to the hearing Respondent’s supplement were analysed and the test results confirmed that one the supplements contained the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and DHEA. However the Respondent did not test positive for DHEA.
Considering the Respondent’s statements and the evidence in this case the Panel finds that Respondent did not testify falsely but he failed to show by a balance of probability how the prohibited substance entered his system.
On 18 November 2013 the North American Court of Arbitration for Sport Panel decides to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Respondent starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 6 September 2012 to 5 September 2014.
