In September 2020 Anti-Doping Norway (ADNO) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the basketball player (40) after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Methylphenidate. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered.
The Athlete did not accept the provisional suspension, nor did he accept the sanction proposed by ADNO. He filed a statement in his defence and the NIF Judging Committee rendered a decision based on the written submissions of the Parties.
The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substance and could not explain how the substance had entered his system. He had used several supplements and vitamines and was not aware that one of these products probably contained a prohibited substance.
He also had purchased and used supplements and medication in Thailand with labels in Thai as treatment for his health problemens. He acknowledged that he may have been careless with the products he had used.
ADNO determines that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and requested the Panel for a sanction of 2 years. ADNO finds that he failed to demonstrate the source of the prohibited substance and had acted negligently with his supplements en medication.
The NIF Judging Committee finds that the presence of a prohibited substance had been established in the Athlete’s sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation.
The Judging Committee agrees that the Athlete's violation was not intentional, yet he clearly had acted negligently with the supplements en medication he had used. He also failed to demonstrate how the substance had entered his system.
Further the Committed determines that there had been delays in the proceedings not attributed to the Athlete. Finally the Committee considers that he had not accepted a provisional suspension.
Therefore the NIF Judging Committee decides on 25 November 2021 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the notification, i.e. 15 September 2020.
