Related case:
KNVB 2015 KNVB Decision Disciplinary Committee 2015026 T
November 25, 2015
25 November 2015 the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Dutch Soccer Association (Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond, KNVB) decided to impose a two year period of ineligibility on the Person after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance cannabis with a high concentration (573 ng/ml) above the WADA threshold. After notification of the violation the Person failed to attend the hearing of the KNVB Disciplinary Committee, nor did he file a statement in his defence.
Hereafter in December 2015 the Person appealed the decision of 25 November 2015 with the KNVB Appeal Committee.
The Person requested for a reduced sanction and he was heard for the Appeal Committee.
The Person argued that he didn’t know that cannabis is a prohibited substance; his use of cannabis was out of competition; and without intention to enhance his performance. He stated that he smoked cannabis at least for one year during the weekends and frequently also on a weekdays. He said that he used out of competition 5 joints with friends in the weekend, 6 days before he provided a sample for drug testing.
The Appeal Committee accepts the Persons explanation and concludes that he is a chronic cannabis user acting with negligence in his responsibility that no prohibited substance enters his body.
Considering the circumstances the KNVB Appeal Committee decides on 26 February 2016 under the Rules to partially accept the Person’s appeal; to reduce the previous imposed sanction; and instead to impose a 9 month period of ineligibility on the Person starting on 25 November 2015.
