In December 2018 the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the South African Athlete Lebakeng Sesele after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone and Trenbolone. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Disciplinary Tribunal.
The Athlete gave a prompt admission, accepted the test results and requested the Panel for a reduced sanction based on his timely admission and No Significant Fault or Negligence.
He explained that he had used these substances intentionally for several weeks out-of-competition as treatment for his hamstring injury because he had no financial means to receive professional medical assistance.
The IAAF contended that the violation was intentional and requested the Panel to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete.
The Panel holds that the Athlete cooperated with the investigation and answered the written questions posed by the IAAF. Whilst the factual questions were answered, the Panel sees no mitigating circumstances. It is only when the Athlete was confronted with a positive test result and questioned further by the IAAF that he provided some information on the anti-doping violation. Here the Panel deems the information and evidence provided by the Athlete during the proceedings to be unsatisfactory and such that it does not demonstrate absence of intent to commit an anti-doping rule violation.
As a result the Panel is comfortably satisfied the Athlete acted intentionally and that he intentionally committed the anti-doping rule violation without grounds for a reduced sanction.
Therefore the Disciplinary Tribunal decides on 15 October 2018 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 12 november 2017.
