In June 2021 United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Ben Harrison after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Drostanolone.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and did not attend the hearing of the National Anti-Doping Panel.
The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He had returned to playing rugby after 10 September 2020 and asserted that the substance was used in the period when he was still retired from sport.
By contrast UKAD contended that the concentration of Drostanolone found in the Athlete's sample was not consistent with his alleged administration of the substance in the period when retired from all forms of rugby.
The Panel considers that the Athlete had admitted the use of the substance and had committed an anti-doping rule violation. The Panel deems that without any corroborating evidence the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 6 September 2022 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 11 June 2021.
