In July 2020 the English Football Association (FA) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the minor football player (15) for use and possesion of the Growth Hormone Somatropin. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the FA Regulatory Commission.
FA contended that a pen-type dispenser was found in the Athlete's possession and that he used this pen to inject himself with the prohibited substance. Further FA contended that the Athlete's refused to hand over his mobile phone during their investigaton.
FA asserted that the mobile phone would likely reveal damaging evidence about the use of the prohibited substance and the communications between the minor Athlete and his parents. That the Athlete's mobile phone may have been stolen hereafter is irrelavant as it was clear there was no intention to comply with the request.
Considering the evidence in this case the Commission establish that the minor Athlete was in possession of a prohibited substance in a pen which was in his bag and in his own fridge in the room of which he had the sole use. He had no TUE and there was no other acceptable justification for being in possession of it.
The Commission holds that the pen was sufficiently long in his possession for him to have known the pen was there and that he immediately took no action to dispose of it or draw it to the attention of an anti-doping organisation. Also he failed to provide his mobile phone to the FA for their investigation.
The Commission finds that the charge for Use did not stand due to insufficient evidence and it deems that there are grounds for No Significant Fault or Negligence since the minor Athlete had not received any anti-doping education. The Commission concludes that the appropriate period of suspension is one of 9 months for Possession and a period of 3 months for his lack to cooperate. Both periods of ineligibility can the Athlete serve concurrently.
Therefore the FA Regulatory Commission decides on 12 January 2021 to impose a 9 month period of ineligibility on the minor Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 7 August 2020.
