In May 2022 the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the cricket player John Campbell for his refusal or failure to submit to sample collection.
After notification the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.
The Doping Control Officers (DCOs) reported that at the Athlete's house, early in the morning in April 2022, the Athlete refused to submit to blood sample collection although he was duly warned about the consequenses of his refusal.
The Athlete argued that he had not received valid notifications in accordance with the ISRM and ISTI. Further he asserted that he had a compelling justification for his failure and that his action was involuntary and not intentional.
He explained that during the Doping Control he was incapacitated by a panic attack to the point of being unable to make a clear and rational decision. Medical experts testified that the Athlete was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) while he also was suffering from depression, the effects of Covid 19 and his traumatic abuse as a teenager.
JADCO contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that he was so cognitively or otherwise impaired so as to make it physically, hygiencally and morally impossible for a sample to be collected, and as such no compelling justification can be argued.
In view of the evidence and the Athlete's assertions the Panel concludes that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that there was a compelling justification for his refusal to submit to sample collection.
The Panel considers that the Athlete had been duly notified in accordance with the ISTI and was duly warned about the consequences of his refusal. Further the Panel finds that the testimonies provided by the Athlete's witnesses about the Doping Control are uncandic and that there are inconsistencies in their statements.
Therefore the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 6 October 2022 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of ADRV Notification, i.e. on 10 May 2022.