In November 2019 Drug Free Sport New Zealand has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the gymnast Batuhan Yazici after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Methylphenidate. After notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right to be heard, accepted the test result and a provisional suspension.
The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substance and explained that he had used one Ritalin pill to help him concentrate and complete an essay due for one of his university papers. DFSNZ accepted that the violation was not intentional. The parties in this case reached an agreement and filed a joint memorandum in relation to the sanction for approval into a decision of the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.
Considering that the Athlete gave a prompt admission and that the violation was not intentional the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand decides therefore on 12 February 2020 to impose 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 5 October 2019.
