In July 2016 the South African Institute for Drugfree Sport (SAIDS) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Barend Steyn after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone (Nandrolone). After notification the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the SAIDS Anti-Doping Hearing Panel.
The Athlete accepted the test results, denied the intentional use of the substances and could not explain how they entered his system. He assumed that the source were the supplements or the medication he had used prior to the sample collection. He complained that because of the delays in the testing and the notification, establishing the origin of the prohibited substances through testing of his supplements in question was without success. Due to a 6 months delay he had no longer the evidence available to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Also neither of his medications contained the substances.
The Panel holds that there was no unfair delay in this case as he was not suspended during this period and still continued to play rugby and received an income. He is an experienced athlete, he was tested before, had applied for a TUE in another matter, while he failed to mention any of his supplements on the Doping Control Form.
The Panel considers that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that his Fault or Negligence was not Significant as he failed to show the duty of care or exercise “utmost caution” to ensure that whatever he took was not on the prohibited list. Consequently the Panel concludes that the Athlete failed to establish how the prohibited substances entered his system nor that the violation was not intentional.
Therefore the SAIDS Anti-Doping Hearing Panel decides on 29 August 2017 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on 7 July 2016.
