Related case:
ST 2017_13 DFSNZ vs Travell Ngatoko (2)
March 16, 2018
In November 2017 the Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby team coach Nohorua Parata for complicity. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Coach filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.
DFSNZ alleged that the Coach encouraged and assisted the player Travell Ngatoko to compete in a pre-season rugby match on 18 March 2017. At that time the player Ngatoko was still serving a 6 month period of ineligibility imposed on him on 3 February 2017 after he tested positive for the use of Cannabis.
The Coach gave a prompt admission and acknowledged that he included the player in the team knowing that he was suspended because he was short of players.
The Tribunal considers the Coach’s conduct, his degree of fault and the delays in the proceedings not attributed to him. Therefore the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand decides on 16 March 2018 to impose a 12 month period of ineligibility on the Coach starting backdated on 28 February 2018.
