In October 2015 the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete J-4075 (the Athlete) after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance methylephedrine. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered.
In his defence the Athlete stated that he purchased in a drugstore an over the counter cold medication because of his illness during the training camp period prior to the competition.
The Panel accepts the Athlete’s statement and finds that the foreign Athlete acted with a certain degree of negligence because the Athlete used the medication without noticing that the label of the medication mentioned in Japanese that it contained methylephedrine. The Panel considers that the Athlete had limited understanding of the Japanese language and purchased the cold medication recommended by the salesman after he had indicaded that he was an Athlete and wanted a doping-free cold medication.
With No Significant Negligence the Japan Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 17 November 2015 to impose a 8 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension i.e. on 6 October 2015.
