Related case:
UKAD 2017 Thomas Curry vs UKAD - Appeal
May 22, 2018
In April 2017 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Thomas Edward Curry after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cocaine. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).
The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that he had used Cocaine out-of-competition, in a context unrelated to sport performance on different occasions during the week before the rugby match in the weekend. He denied that he used Cocaine on Thursday, on Friday or on Saturday, before or after the match.
Based on the test results UKAD contended that Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional and that his fault was significant.
The Panel finds that the Athlete’s ingestion of Cocaine on Thursday morning alone is not consistent with the scientific evidence of the London Lab. As a result the Panel concludes that the Athlete must have used more Cocaine and closer in time to the match. Accordingly the Panel is not satisfied that the Athlete has established how the anti-doping rule violation occurred nor that the violation was not intentional.
Therefore the NADP decides on 26 September 2017 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 28 April 2017.
