In 2015 the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) informed DFSNZ about the results of Medsafe’s investigation into an internet drug supplier NZ Clenbuterol and provided DFSNZ details about the internet purchase in 2015 of a prohibited substance made by the rugby player Hayden Blackley.
Hereafter in September 2018 Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) has reported two anti-doping rule violations against Hayden Blackley for the use, attempted use and possession of the prohibited substance Clenbuterol.
The Athlete gave a prompt admission, denied the intentional use, waived his right to be heard, accepted the provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by DFSNZ. He explained that he used the substance in 2015 for the purpose of losing weight and didn’t know that it was prohibited. On advice of his friends he didn’t use it and threw it away.
The parties in this case reached an agreement and filed a joint memorandum in relation to the sanction for approval into a decision of the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.
The Sports Tribunal of New Zealand considers that the Athlete gave a prompt admission, that the violation was not intentional and that there were substantial delays in the proceedings not attributed to the Athlete.
Therefore the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand decides on 29 October 2018 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting backdated by 12 months from the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. 15 October 2018.