In January 2020 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the player Max Drage after his sample tested positive for the prohibited stubstances Anastrozole, Clomifene, Etiocholanolone and Testosterone including its adiols.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete failed to respond to the RFU communications, he only posted a #UKAD #FuckYou message on Instagram. The case was settled by the RFU Anti-Doping Tribunal based on the written submissions of the parties.
RFU contends that the Athlete's Instagram post showed that he was aware of the notification but failed to respond to the communications. As a result he failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional nor how the substances entered his system.
The Tribunal finds that the presence of prohibited substances has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation. There are no grounds for a reduced sanction since the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional nor how the substances entered his system.
Therefore the RFU Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 19 May 2020 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 10 January 2020.