Related case:
UKAD 2020 Greg Goodfellow vs RFU - Appeal
May 20, 2020
In March 2019 the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Greg Goodfellow after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance Methasterone. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the National Anti-Doping Panel.
The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that the recommended supplement he had purchased and used was the source of the positive test. At the gym where he trained he accepted the reassurances from “some of the guys” and “confirmed that it was legal”. He demonstrated with evidence that the prohibited substance Methasterone was not listed on the label of this product. He confirmed that the label did mention the presence of Superdrol and the ingredient 2α,17α-dimethyl-4-androstadeine-3-one, 17β-ol 12mg.
The Panel finds that the violation was not intentional and the result of the supplement in question he had purchased and used. The Panel does not accept that, on a balance of probability, the Athlete established that he conducted an intenet seach into the supplement in advance of purchasing or in advance of using the supplement. The Panel holds that even the most cursory internet search into two references mentioned on the label of the product would have lead to the prohibited substance Methasterone.
Although the violation was not intentional the Panel deems that the Athlete acted recklessly since he failed to do what he could and should have done if deciding to take a supplement.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 11 February 2020 to impose 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. 29 March 2019.
