In November 2018 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Miles Normandal after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Clomifen. 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 and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained with medical evidence that in 2018 he underwent surgery and physiotherapy for his serious ankle injury and recovered very slowly. His contract with his rugby club was terminated and he believed that his rugby career was over. He testified that he had used Clomifen until April 2018 before he received the opportunity to return to his rugby club in August 2018 where he was tested in September 2018. He expected that the substance was already out of his system when he returned to rugby.
UKAD did not accept the Athlete’s explanation and contended that the Athlete had used the substance more recently before the sample collection in September 2018.
Considering the evidence in this case the Panel accepts that the substance was used until April 2018 when the Athlete was suffering from the effects of a serious injury without any prospect of a return to competitive sport in the foreseeable future and with his contract with his rugby club terminated.
The Panel deems that the violation was not intentional under the Rules since the Athlete at the time was not competing and had no prospect of his competing in the foreseeable future although he had never resigned his rugby registration.
The Panel concludes that the Athlete was aware that he had used a prohibited substance, acted negligently and failed to establish grounds for No Significant Fault or Negligence.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 27 June 2019 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 20 September 2018.
