In March 2019 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Australian ruby player Gabriel Hamlin after his A and B sample tested positive for the prohibited substancd Cocaïne in a low concentration. After notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by UKAD.
The Athlete denied the intentional use and asserted that the ingestion occurred out-of-competition in a context unrelated to sport performance. He explained that the night before the sample collection he had contact with a women and that through kissing the substance came into his system since he was unaware that she had used Cocaine that evening.
The London Lab did not confirm the Athlete’s explanation but stated that the low concentration found in the Athlete’s samples was consistent with out-of-competition ingestion in the days leading up to the competition which is an earlier period of time than given in the account by the Athlete. Accordingly that UKAD did not accept the Athlete’s explanation but deems that the Athlete’s violation was not intentional, out-of-competition and unrelated to sport performance.
Without grounds for No Significant Fault or Negligence UKAD decides on 7 January 2020 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of sample collection, i.e. on 8 February 2019.
