In April 2022 NADOMALTA reported an anti-doping rule violation against the hockey player Steve Portelli after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold.
Following notification the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports (AIMS).
Although the Parties went into a case resolution agreement the Athlete did not respond to the opportunity to establish that his use of Cannabis was a case of Substance of Abuse. Consequently he failed to demonstrate that his use occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance.
The AIMS rejected the Athlete's request for an exemption to be permitted to coach. Further the AIMS considers that there had been delays in the proceedings not attributed to the Athlete.
Therefore the AIMS decides on 18 May 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 13 March 2022.
