In August 2003 the International Federation of Rowing Associations (FISA) has reported an anti-doping violation against the Austrian Athletes Helfried Jurtschitsch, Martin Kobau and Norbert Lambing after their A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance norandrosterone.
FISA notified the Athletes and ordered a provisional suspension. The Athletes filed statements in their defence and were heard for the FISA Commission of Enquiry in January 2004.
The Athletes stated the used a supplement Mega Ribosyn since 2001. Before using the Athletes researched the ingredients of the supplement and consulted the website of their National Anti-Doping Agency and the list of the Seibersdorf Laboratory which is accredited by the IOC and WADA. The list indicated in which shop the supplement should be bought and the lot number which has been tested. However the Athletes did not pay attention to the lot number when they purchased the product.
After the Athlete’s adverse result the supplement Mega Ribosyn has been re-tested. Some capsules in the same box contained 0.02 ng/ml of norandrosterone and others 20 ng. Hereafter the product was removed from the Seibersdorf website in August 2004. The complete list was also removed from the website.
The Athletes argued that they have not been able to train normally since they tested positive. The lost some grants and have not been to training camps. In addition the sponsors have rejected them and they have received a lot of criticism in newspapers.
From the files and from the hearing for the Commission of Enquiry, the FISA Executive Committee concludes that the Athletes had no intention to enhance sport performance and no significant negligence due to the Athletes did everything possible to avoid using prohibited substances.
With lex mitior and very small negligence the FISA Executive Committee decides to impose a 6 month period of ineligibility on the Athletes, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 August 2003.
