Facts
The United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) had charged Andrew Hastings, the athlete, for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules. On May 30, 2015, the athlete provided an in-competition sample for doping test purposes, during a cycling event in Belgium. The sample of the athlete showed the presence of metenolone, a metabolite of metenolone and a metabolite of stanozolol. Metenolone and stanozolol are prohibited substances according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2015 prohibited list. They are regarded as a non-specified substances.
History
The athlete accepted the charge and did not want to have a hearing and handle it by written representation. It is regarded as a prompt admission, in terms of time and context.
In his written statement the athlete claims that there had been a contamination with a syringe he used to administer vitamine B12. He had taken a used syringe from a person he did not know because he did not have one at the training camp he attended.
One expert states that metenolone and stanozolol are derivatives of a naturally occurring hormones. Stanazolol is likely to be modified in order to amplify its anabolic effects. Stanozolol is not currently licensed as a medicine.
Another expert concludes that residues in a syringe does not adequately account for the presence of metenolone, its metabolite or a metabolite of stanozolol.
The athlete holds on to his statement that he had used a contaminated syringe although there is no proof of that fact.
The athlete failed to establish how the prohibited substances had entered his body, meaning a reduction of the standard sanction is not possible.
Decision
- The sanction is a period of ineligibility of four years, commencing from May 30, 2015, till May 29, 2019.
