In June 2011 the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Unathi Nteta after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substances metandienone and methylhexaneamine (dimethylpentylamine). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the SAIDS Disciplinary Committee.
The Athlete had no explanation for the positive test result and only used three supplements, recommended by the person in the shop where he purchased these products.
Laboratory analysis showed that the supplement Wired contained the prohibited substance methylhexaneamine and the label of this product warned in fine print that it contained banned substances.
The Panel noted that the Athlete, who spoke Xhosa, had obvious difficulty in reading what was written in English on the label of the product.
The Athlete suggested that the presence of metandienone could have come from vitamin B he took, or even the meat of one of the cows which had previously been injected, which had died and was eaten in December 2010.
The Committee considers exceptional circumstances in this case due to the Athlete’s disadvantaged position. Therefore the SAIDS Disciplinary Committee decides to impose a 18 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the notification, i.e. on 21 April 2011.
