In June 2019 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the basketball player Alfredie Roberts after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold. After notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by UKAD.
The Athlete denied the intentional use of the Cannabis and explained that a week before the sample collection he had consumed some chocolate brownies out-of-competition while he was aware that they likely contained an illegal substance. He believed these brownies would not have an impact on his performance and did not expect to provide a positive sample.
UKAD holds the Athlete gave a prompt admission and that the London Lab considers it entirely possible that the Athlete’s ingestion of Cannabis occurred out-of-competition as stated.
UKAD accepts that the violation was not intentional and finds that the Athlete acted with significant fault in this matter without grounds for a further reduction of the sanction.
Therefore UKAD decides on 19 December 2019 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 19 May 2019.
