In August 2019 World Rugby reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Cayman Island rugby player Keswick Wright after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. In spite of submissions between the Athlete and WR he failed to request for a hearing.
In his previous submission the Athlete admitted the use of Cannabis and indicated that he stopped playing for a long time because of the severe chronic pains he suffered. The Cannabis was used for pain relief and he acknowledged that he didn’t mention this on the Doping Control Form. Furthermore the Athlete didn’t file any written submissions in his defence.
WR finds that the violation was not intentional and does not contest that the use of Cannabis was used out-of-competition for non-sporting reasons. It requested the Panel to impose a period of ineligibility on the Athlete of between 6-9 months.
The WR Judicial Panel settled the case based on the written submissions from the parties. Since he failed to request for a hearing nor filed written submissions in his defence the Athlete is deemed to have admitted the violation and to have waived his right for a hearing.
The Sole Arbitrator finds that the presence of a prohibited substance had been established in his sample and accordingly that the Athlete committed an anti-doping rule violation. Therefore the WR Judicial Panel decides on 7 January 2020 to impose a 6 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 7 August 2019.
