In April 2018 World Rugby has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Jamaican rugby player Joshua Christie after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Drostanolone. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete filed a statement in his defence.
In his submission the Athlete admitted the use of a Testosterone booster purchased in a local gym in a period that he had dislocated his shoulder, stopped attending training sessions and was depressed about his situation. He stated that he stopped using this supplement in March 2018 when he continued his training sessions and he was selected for competitions.
After his submission the Athlete failed to respond to the communications from World Rugby. Without the Athlete’s response the World Rugby Judicial Committee deems that the Athlete has admitted the violation and to have waived his right to an oral hearing. The Committee renders a decision based on the filed submissions.
Considering the Athlete’s submission the Committee finds that there is no evidence that the Athlete used any other substances that might explain the adverse analytical finding. The only plausible conclusion is that the supplement he described in his submission caused his positive finding. There is no evidence either that he made any effort to find out what he was consuming and whether it contained a prohibited substance. The Committee rejects his statement about his ignorance, that the violation was not intentional and used only for his shoulder injury.
Therefore the World Rugby Judicial Committee decides on 25 July 2018 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 19 April 2018.
