On 16 August 2016 the SAIDS Anti-Doping Hearing Panel decide to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the football player Thandani Ntshumayelo, after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substances Cocaine. The Athlete had admitted the use of the substance 3 days prior to the competition while he was aware that this substance was prohibited.
Hereafter the Athlate appealed the First Instance Decision with the SAIDS Appeal Tribunal.
The Athlete admitted that he had used the substance 3 days prior to the competition and requested for a reduced sanction. He asserted that his use was only recreational, out-of-competition and not intentional to enhance his sport performance.
SAIDS accepted that the Athlete had intentionally used the substance but that it was not related to sport performance.
The Appeal Tribunal agrees that the violation was not intentional and that the Athlete established grounds for a reduced sanction.
Therefore the SAIDS Appeal Tribunal decides on 7 September 2018 that the Athlete's appeal is admissible and to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension.
