In April 2017 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Dean Ashfield after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Clenbuterol, Drostanolone and Trenbolone. 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.
The Athlete gave a prompt admission, accepted the test results, stated that the violation was not intentional and offered to provide substantial assistance. Here the Athlete stated that he suffered from a knee ligament and constant back pain and underwent treatments without success. Then he underwent treatment from a local sports therapist who also run a gym. The Athlete testified that the therapist administered to him a 'cortisone' injection as a pain relief treatment. He asserted that possibly through this injection the prohibited substances entered his system.
The Rugby Football Union responded skeptical about the Athlete’s testimony because he failed to mention the name of the sports therapist and the date of the injection was administered. Neither did he indicate that the injection was for a recognized medical treatment conducted by a proper medical practitioner. Also he failed to make any enquiries about the content of the injection before it was administered. The RFU points to the Athlete’s participation in every match in 2017, contrary to his history of being in constant and unmanageable pain. The Director of the London Lab also rejected the Athlete’s testimony.
The Panel did not accept the Athlete’s explanation and deems that the Athlete failed to establish how the substances entered his system, nor that the violation was not intentional. Considering the Athlete’s prompt admission and his substantial assistance the Panel finds that these are matters voor WADA, UKAD and the RFU to grant a reduction of the sanction. In addition the Panel holds that there are no grounds to start the sanction on the date of the sample collection.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 22 March 2018 to impose 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 10 April 2017.
