Facts
The Welch Rugby Union (WRU) charged Oliver Bilton, the athlete, for violations of the Anti-Doping Rules. On December 13, 2014 an in-competition urine sample was collected for doping control purposes. His sample showed the presence of oxandrolone and its metabolite epioxandrolone which is a prohibited substance according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list.
History
The athlete requested to determine this case on the papers. The Tribunal acceded to that request by the Athlete and the Tribunal met by telephone conference on 29 April 2015 to consider the papers. The athlete had used protein supplements from his housemates. The Athlete did not carry out any checks on his housemates’ supplements before he used them.
Although two prohibited substances were detected, the panel regards this case as one Anti-Doping Rule Violation. The athlete had made a prompt admission. The Athlete’s two year period of suspension should be backdated to the date of the sample collection namely December 13, 2014. The Athlete should receive the benefit of the lex mitior principle as the WADA Code 2015 provides that the Athlete may return to training no longer than 2 months before the expiry of his period of ineligibility.
Decision
The sanction imposed by this Tribunal for the ADRV’s is a period of Ineligibility of two years commencing on December 13, 2014. The Athlete shall be permitted to return to training no earlier than two months prior to the expiry of the period of Ineligibility, namely October 13, 2016.
