In August 2014 the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Daryl Impey after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance probenecid. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement with evidence in his defence and was heard for the SAIDS Disciplinary Panel.
The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that he spent considerable time to determine how the substance had entered his system. The Athlete showed, sustained with evidence, that to positive test result was caused by gelatin capsules purchased in a pharmacy which were contaminated by probenecid residue in the pharmacy’s pill counter. The pharmacist confirmed that two hours earlier the pharmacy had dispensed powder coated probenecid tablets to a customer, which tablets were dispensed from the same pilldispenser later used to dispense the Athlete’s gelatin capsules.
An expert witness stated that the low concentration of the substance found in the Athlete’s sample was possibly the result of cross-contamination. He concluded that is was entirely possible that the probenecid detected in the sample was due to gelatin capsules contaminated with probenecid residue during the counting process in the pharmacy.
The Panel accepts the Athlete’s evidence and concludes that the Athlete did not know or suspect, and could not reasonable have known or suspected that the gelatin capsules were contaminated.
Due to exceptional circumstance the SAIDS Disciplinary Panel decides on 28 August 2014 not to impose a period of ineligibility on the Athlete and to lift the provisional suspension.
Nevertheless due to he tested positive, the Athlete committed an anti-doping and therefore his results obtained in competition between 4 and 9 February 2014 are disqualified.
