Related cases:
- ST 2017_13 DFSNZ vs Travell Ngatoko (1)
February 3, 2017
- ST 2017_12 DFSNZ vs Nohorua Parata
March 16, 2018
On 3 February 2017 the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand decided to impose a 6 month period of ineligibility on the rugby player Travell Ngatoko for testing positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis. His ineligibility started on 3 November 2016 and ended on 3 May 2017
Hereafter Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) reported that the Respondent Travell Ngatoko had played in a pre-season rugby league match in 18 March 2017 while he was still serving the imposed period of ineligibility.
After notification a new provisional suspension was ordered in November 2017. The Respondent filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.
The Respondent admitted the violation and he explained that he was encouraged and assured by his coach and the Board member that he could play. The Respondent asserted that he didn't knew that he could not play in a pre-season game under the terms of his ineligibility.
The Tribunal considers the Respondent's degree of fault in this case and finds that there are grounds for a reduced sanction.
Therefore the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand decides on 16 March 2018 to impose a proportional sanction of 4 months on the Respondent starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 29 November 2017 until 31 March 2018.
