Facts
The Royal Dutch Gymnastics Federation (Koninklijke Nederlandse Gymnastiek Unie, KNGU) alleged athlete 2009035 for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules. During an in-competition doping control samples were taken for doping control purposes. The analysis of the samples showed the presence of a metabolite of cocaine. Cocaine is a prohibited substance according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list.

History
Shortly after the doping control the athlete told the union physician that he had used cocaine, he admitted the use in a letter to the Doping Authority (DA) before the positive findings were confirmed. When the athlete received the notification about the positive findings he made this known to the media, resulting in loosing his job.
The KNGU did want a punishment for the violation but also they want to support the athlete to return to his top level in his sport. For this they seek mitigating circumstances and emphasis that the prohibited substance wasn't used for enhancing sport performance and the athlete had admitted the use to the DA and the general public. The athlete went to a rehab clinic abroad to show his motivation to deal with his problem.

Also the council of the athlete emphasises that the athlete had confessed the use, before the laboratory results were known, to the DA and he had made a public confession. Cocaine doesn't enhance sport performance and the athlete did suffer from loosing his job, sponsor income, his status as high level athlete, his good name, fame and reputation. For this mitigating circumstances should be considered.

The disciplinary committee does not consider the personal consequences for the athlete as mitigating circumstances. However the fact that cocaine doesn't enhance sport performance and that his confession in the media sets a positive example for top level athletes makes it possible to allow a reduction of the sentence.

Decision
- The sanction is a period of ineligibility of one year with reduction of the period already spent in voluntary suspension.

Facts
The Doping Authority (DA) appealed against the decision, dated October 22, 2009, of the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Dutch Gymnastics Federation (Koninklijke Nederlandse Gymnastiek Unie, KNGU). In this decision the athlete was awarded with a period of ineligibility of one year for the positive finding of cocaine after a doping test.

History
The DA does not object the sanction but appeals against the consideration of the Disciplinary Committee that cocaine is not a sport performance enhancing substance. In the view of the DA this is a wrong interpretation of the doping rules.
The procedure was held without a hearing, the appeal committee agrees with the fact that cocaine is on the prohibited list of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and it is not relevant if it enhances sport performance because it is prohibited. The decision will be adapted.

Decision
- The decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the KNGU, dated October 22, 2009, will be upheld with the adaptions.

Claimant appeals against the decision of the Disciplinary Committee off the Royal Dutch Hockey League (Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond, KNHB) of March 30, 2007.
He was sentenced with a warning, a reprimand and a period of ineligibility of one month for the use of cannabis.
The appeal committee concludes that due to regulations in the statues of KNHB the disciplinary committee of the KNHB is not qualified to impose a penalty.
This decision on May 24, 2007, cancels the decision of March 30, 2007, the awards will be redrawn.

The Dutch National Hockey Association (Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond, KNHB) has reported an anti doping rule violation against this person after he tested positive for the prohibited substance carboxy-THC (a metabolite of cannabis).
Person was heard for the Committee and stated, supported by witnesses, he had used a joint at a party twee days prior to competition and had no intention to enhance his performance.
The Disciplinary Committee concludes that person violated the anti-doping rules and, considering exceptional circumstances, decides for ineligibility for 12 weeks.

In October 2012 the Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond (KNHB), the Royal Netherlands Hockey Federation, has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cocaine.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the KNHB Disciplinary Committee.
The Athlete admitted he had used MDMA and cocaine at a party one week before the doping test. He expressed his regret for the violation and stated that he had no intention to enhance his sport performance.

Considering the circumstances and with no significant fault or negligence, the KNHB Disciplinary Committee decides to impose a 1 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of provisional suspension, i.e. on 11 October 2012.

Appealed case:
KNKV 2011 KNKV Decision Disciplinary Committee 2011001 T
May 10, 2011

The Person appealed the decision of the Royal Dutch Korfball Association (Koninklijk Nederlands Korfbalverbond, KNKV) rendered on 10 May 2011 for his refusal to cooperate to Doping Control.

The Person asserted that he didn’t refuse to the DCO, he was misinformed about the Doping Control. Prior he had received insufficient and confusing information from the organizations about the whereabouts and the one-hour-timeslot.

The Appeal Committee considered the issued information and education in question and concludes that the Person indeed didn't refuse to cooperate to Doping Control as a result of miscarriage of justice.
Without the Person's fault the Committee deems that the imposed sanction was disproportional. Therefore KNKV Appeal Committee annuls the KNKV decision of 10 May 2011 and decides to impose only a warning on the Person.

Related case:
KNKV 2011 KNKV Decision Appeal Committee 2011001 B
May 30, 2011

The Royal Dutch Korfball Association (Koninklijk Nederlands Korfbalverbond, KNKV) has reported an anti doping rule violation against the Person after he refused to cooperate to doping control in January 2011.

The Person was tested in the period prior to 1 January 2001, during in and out-of-competition, at different times and locations.
The Person’s situation changed after 1 January 2011 when he became part op the Registered Testing Pool with the obligation to report his whereabouts and one-hour-timeslot.

Person stated that it was difficult to find relevant information, while the information he received from the KNKV, the Anti-Doping Authority, the DCO and the IKF was insufficient and confusing. As a result the Person assumed that his cooperation was only necessary within the one-hour-timeslot.

The Committee deems that the insufficient information was highly responsible for the Person’s confusion as to his obligations.
The Committee rejects the Person’s assertions regarding his cooperation to anti-doping control and the violation of the privacy legislation.

Because of the exceptional circumstances in this case the KNKV Disciplinary Committee decides on 10 May 2011 to impose a 1 year period of ineligibility on the Person.

Fees and expenses for this committee shall be borne by the Person’s korfball club.

In December 2016 the Royal Netherlands Korfball Association (KNKV) has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Person after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance cocaine.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Person filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the KNKV Disciplinary Committee.

The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that he had used the substance during the night out downtown about one week before the competition without intention to enhance his performance.
He explained that at that time he had personal problems and relationship problems. He went out with friends had consumed alcohol before he had accepted and used the cocaine.

Considering the circumstances the Disciplinary Committee accepts the Person’s explanation and finds that the anti-doping violaton was non intentional, and the result of out-of-competition consumption.
With No Significant Fault the KNKV Disciplinary Committee decides on 17 May 2017 to impose a 15 month period of ineligibility on the Person starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 23 December 2016.

The defendant appeal against the decision of the disciplinary committee of the Royal Dutch Lawn Tennis Union (KNLTB) dated February 6, 2007. For which he was awarded with an ineligibility of two years.
The defendant claims not to be a part of the registered testing pool. For that reason he didn't attend the doping test. In his Appeal he states not to be aware of the consequences doing so, also he doubts the competence of the DCO.
Considering the doping rules of the KNLTB, particularly Section 22, paragraph 3, athletes not belonging to the registered testing pool should not be selected.
There is no reason to assume that defendant should have known he had to ask to be removed from the list (no Fault or Negligence).
The defendant refusal was permitted.
The appeal is granted, the decision of the Disciplinary Committee is set aside.
An appeal can be made within 21 days at the CAS.

Maharaj VR, Dookie T, Mohammed S, Ince S, Marsang BL, Rambocas N, Chin M, McDougall L, Teelucksingh S.
West Indian Med J. 2000 Mar;49(1):55-8.
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad and Tobago.

Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 1062 gym-users in 14 gyms in Trinidad from February 1997 to July 1997 to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding anabolic steroids (AS).

Five hundred and sixty (52.7%) females and 502 (48.3%) males completed the questionnaire. Half of the total sample were individuals in the 20 to 29 year age group. From the 17 questions that tested knowledge about AS, the median number of correct responses was 7 with a mode of 8. Increased muscle mass was correctly identified as one of the effects of AS by 841 respondents (79.2%), while 249 (23.6%) of the total sample thought asthma was treated with AS. Most (872 or 82.1%) felt that their knowledge about AS was inadequate and 700 (66.0%) were of the opinion that AS should be banned from use in competitive sports. Similarly, 733 (70.0%) of the gym-users thought AS should only be available by prescription. Thirty respondents reported having used AS (2.9%, 95% CI 2.0-4.1). The prevalence of AS use was higher among males than females (p < 0.001). Improvement of physical appearance and not competitive advantage in sport was the main reason cited for AS use. Anabolic steroid users knew more about the adverse effects of AS than non-AS users but the therapeutic uses of AS were comparatively less well known.

This study demonstrated a general lack of knowledge concerning AS use and that a small but significant proportion of persons using gyms admitted to abusing AS.

PMID:
10786454
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]