In April 2023 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Taiye Ryan Olowofela after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cocaine.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). The Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and stated that the use of Cocaine occurred out-of-competition on a Thursday.
Considering the findings of the test result and the Athlete's statements UKAD concluded that the ingestion of Cocaine occurred during the in-competition period. Hereafter the Athlete demonstrated that he had the date wrong and that the use of Cocaine indeed had occurred out-of-competition.
He explained that the match and sample collection had not occurred on a Saturday since the rugby match was this time played unusually on a Sunday. He showed with corroborating evidence that he was at home on the Saturday, feeling unwell from the excesses of the Friday night before.
In view of the new evidence the RFU accepts that the Athlete had used Cocaine out-of-competition in a context unrelated to sport performance. Because he had admitted the violation a reduced sanction shall be imposed on the Athlete.
Therefore the RFU decides on 6 November 2023 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the rugby player, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 28 April 2023. Because the Athlete already had served this period of ineligibility during the provisional suspension he is eligible to participate in sport forthwith.
