As a result of a police investigation into the customer records of a supplier of illicit drugs United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) was informed that in May 2019 an amateur rugby player (48) had purchased Testosterone Cypionate.
Consequently in September 2022 UKAD reported anti-doping rule violations against the Amateur Player for the attempted use and possession of Testosterone.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Amateur Player filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the National Anti-Doping Panel.
The Amateur Player admitted the purchase of Testosterone in May 2019 and denied the intentional use. He stated that in 2019 he already had retired as a rugby player and as a coach and accordingly he was no subject anymore to the ADR as an Athlete.
He explained that in early 2019 he suffered from health problems and had decided to retire from playing and coaching rugby. Out drinking alcohol with a friend he recommended the use of Testosterone when he told him about his health problems.
Thereupon in his intoxicated state he had ordered some Testosterone. He denied that he had used the substance and stated that when he received the product a few days later he immediately threw it away in the dustbin.
UKAD contended that the Amateur Player was subject of the ADR because he had not notified his retirement to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). He was also still registered as a player for the subsequent 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.
Further UKAD reported that after the provisional suspension had been ordered the Amateur Player had continued to act as the secretary of his rugby club. Moreover WRU established that the Amateur Player as secretary had de-registered a number of players at the end of the seasons, yet had not de-registrated himself until June 2021.
In view of the evidence the Panel determines that the Amateur Player was no longer playing rugby for the club at the end of the 2018/2019 season. However he remained registered with the WRU as a player for the following two seasons and accordingly he remained subject of the ADR in May 2019.
The Panel finds that the Amateur Player indeed had possessed Testosterone and that he had admitted the purchase of the prohibited substance. The Panel is willing to accept that there was no attempted use of the substance and it dismissed the charge in this matter.
Considering the Amateur Player's conduct the Panel concludes that the anti-doping rule violation was not intentional and that there are no grounds for No Significant Fault or Negligence. Finally the Panel determines that the Amateur Player had continued to act as secretary of his rugby club even while he was provisionally suspended.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 26 September 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Amateur Player, starting on the date of the decision.
