Related case:
SAIDS 2016_34 Tyrone White vs SAIDS - Appeal
April 19, 2017
In July 2016 the South African Institute for Drugfree Sport (SAIDS) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the cyclist Tyrone White after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Dexamethasone. After notification the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the SAIDS Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee.
The Athlete accepted the test results and stated that the violation was not intentional. He explained that he participated in a nine day race. At the beginning of the competition he became very ill and severely dehydrated and underwent medical treatment at the medical center. The Athlete hereafter recovered and could compete in the last stage of the race where he was tested.
The Athlete contended that the prohibited substance entered his system through the intravenous fluids administered by the doctor at the medical center. The Athlete acknowledged that he failed to mention to administered substances on the Doping Control Form and he didn’t succeed in obtaining the medical records on the day in question.
The medical doctor on duty at the race was an emergency doctor and not a sports medicine doctor. He testified that the medical center where the Athlete underwent treatment was extremely busy and that in this situation he believed there was a mix up of medication with the administration of Dexamethasone instead of the intended Promethazine.
The Panel finds it highly probable that the prohibited substance came into the Athlete’s system at the time he underwent treatment. The Panel accepts the medical evidence about the Athlete’s condition and the prescribed medication and that on a balance of probability has been established that Dexamethasone was administered at the medical center.
The Panel is concerned about the chaotic situation at the medical centre during the race with limited medical staff where the Athlete most probably negligently the prohibited substance was administered. Further the medical records of this event, kept by the company that handled the medical centers, were not accessible and could not be produced for the Panel. Because of this chaotic situation de Panel expected that the Athlete ensured that the administered medication did not contain a prohibited substance before his competed in the last race.
Considering the circumstances in this case and the Athlete’s degree of fault the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee decides on 14 December 2016 to impose a 18 month period of ineligibility starting on the date of the decision.
In addition the Panel recommended:
1.) The medical personal providing care at sport events must maintain a high level of medical and administrative propriety, in spite of their surroundings and facilities available to them, with particular reference to:
- a.) Double checking medicines before their administration;
- b.) Keeping accurate and comprehensive medical records;
2.) Multi-stage cycle race organizers are advised to limit their liability in these matters by providing adequate staffing and appropriate funding of the medical service at these events.
