In July 2017 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta (ADC) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the triathlon Athlete Keith Galea after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substances Stanozolol and Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.
The Athlete accepted the test results and explained with evidence that he went through a stressful period before the doping test primarily because he was very focused to improve his performances and to repeat and improve his success during the last year. Because he was not satisfied about his performances and his coach he trained with a new coach who provided him syringes and tablets. Here he failed to conduct any research into these products before using nor mentioned any of his products on the Doping Control Form.
The Athlete argued that he bears No Significant Fault or Negligence in this case on the basis that he during that period was in a state of agitation, confusion and mental weakness that made him vulnerable to be monopolised by his coach in such a way that he could not question or suspect of any of the substances that he was being given by his coach.
The Panel accepts that the Athlete was passing through a difficult period but is not convinced that such circumstances were grave enough to impede him to be aware of the possible threats that the substances he was ingesting were possibly prohibited. In this respect the Panel finds that the Athlete did not take any basic precautions, by consulting a doctor or simply by searching the names and details found on the labels of the substances and thus he has departed from his duty of care. When taking into consideration all the facts of the case the Panel believes that the Athlete has departed from the duty of care required from athletes and there is no sufficient justification to justify his negligence.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 7 March 2018 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 14 July 2017.