Related case:
UKAD 2023 Rowland Kaye vs UKAD - Appeal
April 26, 2023
In March 2022 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Rowland Kaye after his A and B samples tested positive for metabolites of the prohibited substance Methasterone and/or Oxymetholone in a low concentration.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the National Anti-Doping Panel.
UKAD contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional and that he had acted negligently with the supplements he had used. Also he could not demonstrated with corroborating evidence how the substances had entered his system.
The Athlete accepted the test results, denied the intentional use of the substances and requested for a reduced sanction. He believed that the source of the metabolites was a contaminated supplement he had used.
He argued that the concentration of metabolites found in his samples was low and consistent with supplement contamination. Because of his fragile medical condition the use of doping would harm his health.
The Athlete asserted that he was hampered to find the source of the metabolites due to at the time of the delayed notification he had already disposed the containers of the supplements he had used after finishing the contents. Further he alleged that he received no assistance from UKAD to determine the source of the substances and his attempt to seek evidence from the manufacturers of suppements was unsuccesful.
In view of the evidence the Panel finds that the presence of prohibited substances has been established in the Athlete's samples and accordingly he committed an anti-doping rule violation. Although the found concentration of the metabolites in the samples was low the Panel deems it does not point to contamination as the source.
The Panel agrees that there was some delay and a regrettable amount of time between the test and results notification. Nevertheless the Panel considers it unlikely that by the normal time taken for an analysis he also had consumed all relevant supplements and disposed of the containers.
Furthermore the Panel holds that Athlete failed to initiate analysis of any of his supplements he retained. The Panel concludes that the Athlete is not a cheat, yet he acted negligently with his supplements and he could not identify the source of the metabolites found in his samples.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 4 January 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 4 March 2022.
