In February 2023 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Ryan Snowdeny after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Clenbuterol and Enobosarm (Ostarine).

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by UKAD. The Athlete acknowleded that he had used a supplement containing Clenbuterol to lose weight.

UKAD deems that the Athlete's violation was intentional and determines that he shall receive a 1 year reduction to the period of ineligibility for his timely admission of the anti-doping rule violation.

Therefore UKAD decides on 7 July 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 10 February 2023.

In February 2023 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Rob Worrincy after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Enobosarm (ostarine), GW1516 and Ibutamoren.

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by UKAD.

The Athlete acknowleded that he had used supplements to speed up recovery from an injury. He asserted that he was unaware that one of these supplements contained prohibited substances.

UKAD deems that the Athlete's violation was intentional and determines that he shall receive a 1 year reduction to the period of ineligibility for his timely admission of the anti-doping rule violation.

Therefore UKAD decides on 6 July 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 24 February 2023.

Related case:

UKAD 2021 UKAD vs Dr Richard Freeman
July 20, 2023

Dr Richard Freeman is a former sports physician known for his work with British Cycling and Team Sky.

Following investigations United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) established that Dr Freeman in May 2011 had ordered 30 sachets of Testogel (Testosterone gel). These 30 sachets had been delivered to the National Cycling Centre in Manchester and were addressed to Dr Freeman.

Thereupon UKAD established that Dr Freeman had provided false statements about the purpose of the Testogel. Dr Freeman claimed that the Testogel was used as treatment for a 'non-rider' patient and that the Testogel had been returned to the supplier for destruction.

Consequently in December 2020 UKAD reported two anti-doping rule violations against Dr Freeman for possession of Testogel in 2011 and for Tampering in 2017 by providing false statements to UKAD in respect of ordering the Testogel.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. In April 2017 UKAD made a referral to the General Medical Council (GMC) in respect of UKAD's concerns relating to Dr Freeman's conduct and fitness to practise.

On 12 March 2021 the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) determined that Dr Freeman had ordered Testogel and had lied to UKAD whilst under investigation. As a result the MPTS decided to erase Dr Freeman from the General Medical Council's Medical register.

Taking all these matters into account, the Tribunal considered that Dr Freeman’s behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with continued registration. The Tribunal has therefore determined that erasure is the only sufficient sanction which would protect patients, maintain public confidence in the profession and send a clear message to Dr Freeman, the profession and the public that his misconduct constituted behaviour unbefitting and incompatible with that of a registered doctor.

Hereafter the High Court dismissed on 16 January 2023 Dr Freeman's Appeal and confirmed the Appealed MPTS Decision. Thereupon UKAD could resume its investigations and the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) could conclude its proceedings against Dr Freeman.

Related case:

MPTS 2854524 Dr Richard Freeman
March 19, 2021

Dr Richard Freeman is a former sports physician known for his work with British Cycling and Team Sky.

Following investigations United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) established that Dr Freeman in May 2011 had ordered 30 sachets of Testogel (Testosterone gel). These 30 sachets had been delivered to the National Cycling Centre in Manchester and were addressed to Dr Freeman.

Thereupon UKAD established that Dr Freeman had provided false statements about the purpose of the Testogel. Dr Freeman claimed that the Testogel was used as treatment for a 'non-rider' patient and that the Testogel had been returned to the supplier for destruction.

Consequently in December 2020 UKAD reported two anti-doping rule violations against Dr Freeman for possession of Testogel in 2011 and for Tampering in 2017 by providing false statements to UKAD in respect of ordering the Testogel.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. In April 2017 UKAD made a referral to the General Medical Council (GMC) in respect of UKAD's concerns relating to Dr Freeman's conduct and fitness to practise.

On 12 March 2021 the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) determined that Dr Freeman had ordered Testogel and had lied to UKAD whilst under investigation. As a result the MPTS decided to erase Dr Freeman from the General Medical Council's Medical register.

Hereafter the High Court dismissed on 16 January 2023 Dr Freeman's Appeal and confirmed the Appealed MPTS Decision. Thereupon UKAD could resume its investigations and the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) could conclude its proceedings against Dr Freeman.

The Panel is comfortably satisfied that the evidence establishes that Dr Freeman intended to make available to one or more of his athletes the Testogel delivered to the National Cycling Centre in Manchester. Also the evidence established that Dr Freeman committed the second Tampering charge by conduct that subverted Doping Control.

Therefore the National Anti-Doping Panel decides on 20 July 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on Dr Freeman, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 22 December 2020.

In 2016, Professor Richard McLaren issued two reports about systemic doping in Russia. These reports identified a significant number of Russian athletes who were involved in, or benefitted from, the doping schemes and practices that he uncovered.

Hereafter in January 2019 the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recovered the internal database of the Moscow Laboratory (LIMS). Following investigation of allegations of organized doping practices, and in particular of the LIMS, WADA provided international federations with investigation reports on the athletes implicated in these organized doping practices.

These investigation reports revealed that a prohibited substance has been established in the sample of the Athlete Yevgeniya Solovyova. This sample was provided by the Athlete in 2012 and thereupon deliberately reported as negative by the Moscow laboratory.

As a result in October 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for the use of the prohibited substance Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (Turinabol) in 2012. After notification the Athlete denied the alleged anti-doping rule violation. Thereupon she failed to respond to the AIU communications.

Without the Athlete's response the AIU deems that she has waived her right to a hearing, to have accepted the asserted anti-doping rule violation and the sanction rendered by the AIU. The AIU considers that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case that justifies the imposition of a more severe sanction.

Furthermore the AIU determines that the Athlete previously was sanctioned with a period of ineligibility of 6 months from 21 February 2013 until 20 August 2013. In the present case the AIU shall count the reported 2012 anti-doping rule violation as single first violation together with the 2013 first violation.

Therefore the AIU decides on 25 May 2023 to impose an additional 3 year and 6 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the decision. All the Athlete's results from 12 October 2012 until 21 February 2013 are disqualified with all of the resulting consequences, including forfeiture of any medals, titles, points, prize money and prizes.

In June 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on behalf of World Athletics reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Ethiopian Athlete Ana Ebesie Ayele Balcha after her sample tested positive for prohibited Testosterone metabolites and adiols.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete could not explain the positive test result and accepted the consequences.

Ultimately in August 2023 the Athlete gave a timely admission, waived her right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU.

Because the Athlete had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 22 August 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 12 December 2022.

In July 2023 Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) reported an anti-doping rule violations against the rugby player Isaia Walker-Leawere after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold.

After notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right to be heard, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by DFSNZ.
The parties in this case reached an agreement and filed a joint memorandum in relation to the sanction for approval into a decision of the New Zealand Rugby Union Judicial Committee.

The Judicial Committee considers that the Athlete gave a prompt admission about his out-of-competition use of Cannabis. Further the Committee considers that the Athlete completed a Substance of Abuse treatment programme approved by DFSNZ.

Therefore the New Zealand Rugby Union Judicial Committee decides on 4 August 2023 to impose a 1 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, ending on 5 August 2023.

In June 2022 the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the soccer player Osaze De Rosario after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis.

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by CCES. Because the use of Cannabis occurred out-of-competition and the Athlete completed an approved Substance of Abuse treatment program he received a reduced sanction from CCES.

Therefore CCES decides on 14 August 2023 to impose a 1 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on 4 August 2023.

Related cases:

• CCES 2022 CCES vs Donovan Burgmaier (1)
  March 15, 2022
• CCES 2022 CCES vs Donovan Burgmaier (2)
  April 26, 2022
  
  

In May 2023 the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) reported a new anti-doping rule violation against the football player Donovan Burgmaier after his sample again tested positive for the prohibited substance Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone.

The Athlete is already serving two consecutive three year periods of ineligibility for his previous violations for presence and admitted use until 26 January 2028.

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by CCES. Because he signed and submitted the Early Admission and Acceptance Form he received a 1 year reduction from CCES for his second anti-doping rule violation.

Therefore CCES decides on 30 May 2022 to impose a 7 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date the Athlete's 6 year period of ineligibility shall end, i.e. on 26 January 2028 until 26 January 2035.

In May 2023 the South African Institute for Drugfree Sport (SAIDS) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Tebogo Tsotetsi after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Salbutamol.

Following notification a provisional suspension was accepted, yet thereupon she continued to participate into a Marathon. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and was heard for the Anti-Doping Tribuanl Hearing Panel.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. She explained that at the material time she had used a cough syrup for her illness while she was unaware that this product contained Salbutamol.

The Athlete acknowleged that she had been negligently with her self-medication and had not mentioned all her medication on the Doping Control Form. She asserted that she is only a recreational Athlete and had never received anti-doping education.

SAIDS accepted that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and that she had acted negligently with grounds for a reduced sanction.

In view of the evidence the Panel agrees that the Athlete's violation was not intentional. Furhter the Panel determines that, as a recreational Athlete, she had acted with a degree of No Significant Fault or Negligence.

Therefore the Panel decides on 15 August 2023 to impose a 20 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the decision.