In December 2018 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Todd James after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Ostarine. 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 admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He stated that he had used painkiller for his back pain and afterwards he mentioned the use of fat burners in March 2019 withhout corroborating evidence of purchase or scientific evidence that the fat burner in question indeed contained Ostarine.
The Tribunal deems that the Athlete failed to produce evidence of his purchase of a fat burner, a list of ingredients of the product or a substance which was able to be subjected to independent laboratory testing. The Tribunal concludes that the Athlete has not proven on the balance of probabilities that he ingested the Ostarine as testified. Further the Tribunal holds that there are no exceptional or other circumstances in this case that show that the violation was not intentional.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 10 July 2019 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the notification, i.e. on 14 December 2018.
