In April 2019 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the basketball player William Ohuaregbe 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 accepted the test result, denied the intentional use of the substance and believed that the use of a contamined supplement must have been the source of the positive test. He mentioned his supplements on the Doping Control Form and he had researched the ingredients of his supplements on the internet before using. Previously he had not received any in depth anti-doping education but he was aware of the responsibility of an athlete for what enters his system.
UKAD accepts that the violation was not intentional and that the Athlete is a credible witness. It regards that the low concentration found in his sample could be consistent with contamination or a low level Ostarine in the supplement, as opposed to a deliberate dose. Also UKAD holds that the Athlete could not provide samples of the supplements in question for testing to establish that they could have contained Ostarine.
The Panel considers that the Athlete gave a prompt admissission and that the violation was not intentional. The Panel deems that he failed to establish No Significant Fault or Negligence since his internet research was limited and he did not contact or consult any experts about his supplements. Further it recommends that Basketball England will improve the anti-doping education of their athletes.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 9 September 2019 to impose a 2 year period on the Athlete starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 10 March 2019.
