In August 2017 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Adam Walker after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cocaine. The Athlete gave a prompt admission and without a hearing he accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction rendered by UKAD.
The Athlete explained that his use was Out-of-Competition in a contect unrelated to sporting performance as he consumed Cocaine some 3 days prior to the match. The Athlete produced medical evidence to explain that his consumption and addiction of Cocaine was due to a set of mental health problems he suffered. The London Lab confirmed that the concentration of Cocaine found in the Athlete’s sample was consistent with his out-of-competion use more than 12 hours before the match.
UKAD accepted the Athlete’s explanation and finds that the Athlete established, on a balance of probabilities, that the violation was not intentional with No Significant Fault or Negligence. UKAD considers in this case that the Athlete gave a prompt admission and that there were delays in the proceedings not attributed to the Athlete or UKAD.
Therefore UKAD decides on 1 August 2018 to impose 20 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 14 July 2017.
