In March 2008 the International Rugby Board (IRB) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Venezuelan rugby player Angel Gonzalez after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Nandrolone. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and he was heard for the IRB Judicial Committee.
The Athlete accepted the test result and stated that the violation was not intentional and caused by the supplements he had used. After notification of the test result the Athlete has learned that it is not uncommon that ‘natural’ supplements contain prohibited substances and that he can’t rely solely on the label information of these supplements.
While the Athlete made reference to the lack of anti-doping education, he acknowledged that he uses the internet but had not read any of the information on the IRB website or elsewhere which describes the various anti-doping rules and programmes in Spanish.
The Judicial Committee notes, with great concern, that once again, we find ourselves dealing with an international level player who has received little, if any, anti-doping education. Although appropriate information and material is disseminated by the Board to every union, for one reason or another it seems that such information is often not disseminated onwards to players, coaches, medical advisers and others involved in the Game.
Without grounds for a reduced sanction the IRB Judicial Committee decides on 28 June 2008 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 17 March 2008.
