In November 2015 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for refusing to provide a sample for drug testing. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Independent Panel.
The Athlete argued that the DCO’s refusal to have a shower was a failure to follow the procedures; his refusal to provide a sample was not intentional because he suffered from slipped discs and had to take codeine and tramadol with urinary retention as side effect for him.
Considering the statements and arguments the Panel concludes that the Athlete simply and intentionally refused to provide a sample for drug testing. The Panel finds that the DCO’s refusal to the Athlete to have a shower was in the circumstances not unreasonable; the DCO’s gave the Athlete the opportunity to change into dry warm clothes; he was offered the opportunity to take painkillers and told that they would wait as long as it took for him to provide the sample.
Therefore on 10 March 2016 the RFU Indepent Panel decides to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 20 November 2015.
