In June 2017 the South African Institute for Drugfree Sport (SAIDS) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the football player Keenon Blignaut after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold (766 ng/ml). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the SAIDS Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.
The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that he had smoked Cannabis recreationally out of competition for an extended period on the night before the competition in question. He acknowledged that he knew Cannabis was a prohibited substance, he was aware of the anti-doping rules and he mentioned the use on the Doping Control Form.
The Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel considers the circumstances and the Athlete’s degree of fault in this case and decides to impose a 4 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 June 2017.
