Facts
The National Anti-Doping Agency of Romania (Agenţia Naţională Anti-Doping, ANAD) charges Emilian Draghici, the athlete, for a violation of the Anti-Doping rules. During an in-competition doping control on September 5 and 6, 2014, the athlete refused to provided a sample for doping control purposes after signing the “Notice for doping testing” form.

History
The athlete has submitted a statement admitting he had used some products that could lead to an adverse analytical result and, for these reasons, he thought it was useless to submit to doping control anymore.

Decision
- The sanction is a period of ineligibility of 2 years.

Facts
The National Anti-Doping Agency of Romania (Agenţia Naţională Anti-Doping, ANAD) charges Runar Heltne, the trainer, for a violation of the Anti-Doping rules. During a training under his supervision several athletes had used prohibited substances.

History
The Hearing Commission for athletes and their support personnel who violated the anti-doping rules, after reviewing the documents in the case file, the statements given during the hearing meetings, the fact that the athlete Ursu Sergiu didn’t prove his statements according to which Runar Heltne encouraged him to use prohibited substances for enhancing his sport performance, the fact that Anca Heltne purchased on the internet the supplements containing prohibited substances without consulting with Runar Heltne, and provided substantial assistance in detecting other anti-doping rules violations and tracking some networks trafficking prohibited substances, as well as the relevant national and international legal provisions.
There is not sufficient evidence to prove the assistance, encouragement or any other form of complicity regarding the violation.

Decision
No period of ineligibility will be imposed.

Facts
The National Anti-Doping Agency of Romania (Agenţia Naţională Anti-Doping, ANAD) charges Anca Heltne, the athlete, for a violation of the Anti-Doping rules. During a out-of-competition doping control on February 7, 2014, and a in-competition doping control on February 15, 2014, the athlete provided a samples for doping control purposes. Analysis of the samples showed the presence of metabolites of metandienone and dehydrochlormethyltestosterone which are prohibited substance according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2014 prohibited list. Also she failed twice being present for a doping control on January 21 and 28, 2014.

History
The athlete stated that she accessed the website www.steroizi-shop.com and she ordered the DIANABOL from “GENESIS” and TURINABOL from “BALKAN PHARM”. To acquire possession of the products she set up a meeting in Bucharest with an unknown person whom the athlete paid in exchange for the products – without receiving a receipt or a similar proof of payment. The athlete admitted that she ordered products from the said website several times, and that for each delivery she would meet with a different person.
Her provisional suspension had started from March 11, 2014.
The athlete had been sanctioned earlier with a period of ineligibility of 1 year and a ½.
The panel takes into account that the athlete had given substantial support given for discovering or establishing anti-doping rules violations.

Decision
- The sanction is a period of ineligibility of 8 years.
- The period of ineligibility will commence on June 16, 2014, till March 10, 2022.

Facts
The National Anti-Doping Agency of Romania (Agenţia Naţională Anti-Doping, ANAD) charges Sergiu Ursu, the athlete, for a violation of the Anti-Doping rules. During an in-competition doping control on March 11, 2014, the athlete provided a sample for doping control purposes. Analysis of the sample showed the presence of a metabolite of dehydrochlormethyl-testosterone which is a prohibited substance according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2014 prohibited list.

History
The athlete took part in a training in Greece, he claimed he got the prohibited substance from another athlete, this could no be confirmed. The trainer told that athlete collaborated with a doctor and administrated himself. Another athlete also witnessed the use of injections with insulin by the athlete himself. The athlete had earlier been sanctioned for two years for the use of norandrosterone after a doping test on December 12, 2003. Because this had happened more then 8 years ago a multiple violation was ruled out.

Decision
- The sanction is a period of ineligibility of 2 years commencing on March 11, 2014, till March 10, 2016.

iNADO Update #65 addresses a number of new matters and new resources for the NADO and RADO community. The report of the WADA Independent Commission, an important new anti-doping documentary film, and other new materials are covered. And, of course, we welcome WADA’s new Director-General designate.

Etude comparative sur les prestations de prélèvement / Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage. - AFLD: Paris, 2015

This study of the French Anti-Doping Agency (Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage, AFLD) deals with testing service provision which falls within a two-sided context. Firstly, it aims at placing the AFLD’s position in relation with the other NADO's in a global European anti-doping environment. Secondly, this study was specifically useful to give an overview of the French organization’s situation in the scope of The Court’s audit (Cour des Comptes). Our goal was to evaluate our testing activity in comparison to other anti-doping organizations, in terms of methods, know-how, invoicing, agreement document presentation and accessibility. To this end, we favored a collaborative approach, which also presented the advantage to sustain or take up our relationship with the others NADO's.
Participating NADO's were selected according to diverse criteria. On the one hand, we found interesting the idea of comparing ourselves to NADO's with integrated laboratories as long as we are a few in this situation (ADoP – Portugal and RANAD – Romania). On the other hand, we appealed to NADO's who appear to us as regular partners, such as UKAD (United-Kingdom), Anti-doping Switzerland and NADA (Germany).

Etude comparative sur les prestations de prélèvement / Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage (AFLD). - AFLD: Paris, 2015

This study of the French Anti-Doping Agency (Agence Française de Lutte contre le Dopage, AFLD) deals with testing service provision which falls within a two-sided context. Firstly, it aims at placing the AFLD’s position in relation with the other NADO's in a global European anti-doping environment. Secondly, this study was specifically useful to give an overview of the French organization’s situation in the scope of The Court’s audit (Cour des Comptes). Our goal was to evaluate our testing activity in comparison to other anti-doping organizations, in terms of methods, know-how, invoicing, agreement document presentation and accessibility. To this end, we favored a collaborative approach, which also presented the advantage to sustain or take up our relationship with the others NADO's.
Participating NADO's were selected according to diverse criteria. On the one hand, we found interesting the idea of comparing ourselves to NADO's with integrated laboratories because there are only a few laboratories in this situation (ADoP – Portugal and RANAD – Romania). On the other hand, we appealed to NADO's who appear to us as regular partners, such as UKAD (United-Kingdom), Anti-doping Switzerland and NADA (Germany).

Bovengrens dopingrisico sportvoedingssupplementen: Onderzoek naar de aanwezigheid van dopingstoffen in hoog-risico-sportvoedingssupplementen verkrijgbaar in Nederlandse webshops / Erik Duiven, Olivier de Hon, Laila Spruijt en Bart Coumans . - Capelle aan den IJssel : Dopingautoriteit, 2015

Various studies have shown that dietary supplements can contain prohibited substances without this being stated clearly on the label. In response to this risk for elite athletes, the Doping Authority established the Dutch Safeguards System for Dietary Supplements in Elite Sport (NZVT). It is reasonable to assume that prohibited substances will seldom or never be added deliberately to dietary supplements submitted for analysis under the NZVT system. Nevertheless, between 2003 and 2014, eighteen of the product-batch combinations submitted (1.6%) were found to contain prohibited substances. This percentage is considered to be the lower limit for the prevalence of prohibited substances in dietary supplements. Little or nothing is known about where the upper limit is to be found. International studies have reported maximum upper limits of around 25%. However, the actual upper limit was actually expected to be much higher, especially in a group of highrisk sports supplements specifically targeting hormone regulation, strengthening muscle, weight loss/burning fat, or raising energy levels. This study focused on the question of what percentage of these high-risk sports supplements contain prohibited substances.

After a selection was made from seventeen different web shops, 66 products from 21 different brands were submitted for analysis to the LGC research laboratory (United Kingdom). Twenty-five (38%) of the high-risk sports supplements tested ‘positive’ and 30 (45%) tested ‘negative’. Eight products (12%) were found to contain ‘concentrations below the adopted threshold value’. In these cases, the detection of doping substances may be explained by their natural presence in certain ingredients, such as botanical components. However, this cannot be stated with certainty. Specific research in this area is therefore required. Three of the 66 products (5%) were 'not analysable/not fully analysable'. Three of the 25 'positive' products (5% of the total sample analysed) were found to contain prohibited substances in high concentrations. In addition to the real risk these products pose for athletes in terms of doping violations, there is also a genuine health risk. Given the public health implications, these findings were therefore reported to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

This study shows that Dutch elite athletes continue to be exposed to risks if they use product-batch combinations of dietary supplements that have not been tested for the presence of doping substances by the NZVT (or any other recognised system). At the same time, the NZVT is not used by large proportion - or even a majority - of Dutch elite athletes. This is an undesirable situation. It will therefore be important to boost the promotion of the NZVT among these elite athletes.

Recommendations

NZVT
This study shows that Dutch elite athletes will continue to be exposed to risks if they use product-batch combinations of dietary supplements that have not been tested for the presence of doping substances by the NZVT (or any other recognised system). At the same time, the NZVT is not used by large proportion - or even a majority - of elite Dutch athletes. It is therefore important to give an additional boost to the promotion of the NZVT among elite athletes in the Netherlands. In addition, elite Dutch athletes state that the number of products in the NZVT is limited. Despite the fact that the number of approved product-batch combinations has been growing steadily in recent years, it would therefore also be
desirable to encourage the use of the NZVT by manufacturers of dietary supplements available in the Netherlands.
Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) High concentrations of prohibited substances were found in three dietary supplements from two different companies. Using these products could easily result in health problems. Given the public health implications, these findings were therefore reported to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). This implies a request for the launch of a further investigation into these three dietary supplements.

Botanical components
It would appear to be the case that an increasing number of sports supplements contain botanical ingredients. The addition of these botanical ingredients would also seem to result in findings of low concentrations of steroids. Although phytochemical studies have already demonstrated this principle, the production process used for supplements may lead to an increase in these natural concentrations. This could be a partial explanation for the relatively high number of 'positive' findings for anabolic steroids in this study. Although it is considered to be fairly unlikely that the synthesis of these low concentrations of anabolic steroids could lead to a positive doping test, it would be advisable to investigate this risk further.

HACCP - Plus/NZVT system
A total of 38% of the dietary supplements analysed were 'positive'. These 'positive' products came from 57% of the brands. Although many of the low concentrations found could be explained in part by their natural presence in botanical compounds and/or synthesis in phytochemical processes, it is certainly not inconceivable that contamination or cross-contamination may also have played a role. Manufacturers of dietary supplements are therefore advised to continue the critical monitoring of the entire production process and to make
changes where needed in the interest of elite athletes. The use of the risk assessment system HACCP-Plus/NZVT could provide added value in this respect.

Bovengrens dopingrisico sportvoedingssupplementen : Onderzoek naar de aanwezigheid van dopingstoffen in hoog-risico-sportvoedingssupplementen verkrijgbaar in Nederlandse webshops / Erik Duiven, Olivier de Hon, Laila Spruijt en Bart Coumans . - Capelle aan den IJssel : Dopingautoriteit, 2015

Various studies have shown that dietary supplements can contain prohibited substances without this being stated clearly on the label. In response to this risk for elite athletes, the Doping Authority established the Dutch Safeguards System for Dietary Supplements in Elite Sport (NZVT). It is reasonable to assume that prohibited substances will seldom or never be added deliberately to dietary supplements submitted for analysis under the NZVT system. Nevertheless, between 2003 and 2014, eighteen of the product-batch combinations submitted (1.6%) were found to contain prohibited substances. This percentage is considered to be the lower limit for the prevalence of prohibited substances in dietary supplements. Little or nothing is known about where the upper limit is to be found. International studies have reported maximum upper limits of around 25%. However, the actual upper limit was actually expected to be much higher, especially in a group of highrisk sports supplements specifically targeting hormone regulation, strengthening muscle, weight loss/burning fat, or raising energy levels. This study focused on the question of what percentage of these high-risk sports supplements contain prohibited substances.

After a selection was made from seventeen different web shops, 66 products from 21 different brands were submitted for analysis to the LGC research laboratory (United Kingdom). Twenty-five (38%) of the high-risk sports supplements tested ‘positive’ and 30 (45%) tested ‘negative’. Eight products (12%) were found to contain ‘concentrations below the adopted threshold value’. In these cases, the detection of doping substances may be explained by their natural presence in certain ingredients, such as botanical components. However, this cannot be stated with certainty. Specific research in this area is therefore required. Three of the 66 products (5%) were 'not analysable/not fully analysable'. Three of the 25 'positive' products (5% of the total sample analysed) were found to contain prohibited substances in high concentrations. In addition to the real risk these products pose for athletes in terms of doping violations, there is also a genuine health risk. Given the public health implications, these findings were therefore reported to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

This study shows that Dutch elite athletes continue to be exposed to risks if they use product-batch combinations of dietary supplements that have not been tested for the presence of doping substances by the NZVT (or any other recognised system). At the same time, the NZVT is not used by large proportion - or even a majority - of Dutch elite athletes. This is an undesirable situation. It will therefore be important to boost the promotion of the NZVT among these elite athletes.

Recommendations

NZVT
This study shows that Dutch elite athletes will continue to be exposed to risks if they use product-batch combinations of dietary supplements that have not been tested for the presence of doping substances by the NZVT (or any other recognised system). At the same time, the NZVT is not used by large proportion - or even a majority - of elite Dutch athletes. It is therefore important to give an additional boost to the promotion of the NZVT among elite athletes in the Netherlands. In addition, elite Dutch athletes state that the number of products in the NZVT is limited. Despite the fact that the number of approved product-batch combinations has been growing steadily in recent years, it would therefore also be
desirable to encourage the use of the NZVT by manufacturers of dietary supplements available in the Netherlands.
Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) High concentrations of prohibited substances were found in three dietary supplements from two different companies. Using these products could easily result in health problems. Given the public health implications, these findings were therefore reported to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). This implies a request for the launch of a further investigation into these three dietary supplements.

Botanical components
It would appear to be the case that an increasing number of sports supplements contain botanical ingredients. The addition of these botanical ingredients would also seem to result in findings of low concentrations of steroids. Although phytochemical studies have already demonstrated this principle, the production process used for supplements may lead to an increase in these natural concentrations. This could be a partial explanation for the relatively high number of 'positive' findings for anabolic steroids in this study. Although it is considered to be fairly unlikely that the synthesis of these low concentrations of anabolic steroids could lead to a positive doping test, it would be advisable to investigate this risk further.

HACCP - Plus/NZVT system
A total of 38% of the dietary supplements analysed were 'positive'. These 'positive' products came from 57% of the brands. Although many of the low concentrations found could be explained in part by their natural presence in botanical compounds and/or synthesis in phytochemical processes, it is certainly not inconceivable that contamination or cross-contamination may also have played a role. Manufacturers of dietary supplements are therefore advised to continue the critical monitoring of the entire production process and to make
changes where needed in the interest of elite athletes. The use of the risk assessment system HACCP-Plus/NZVT could provide added value in this respect.

Facts
The United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) had charged Sybren Hoogland, the athlete, for a violation of the Anti-Doping Rules. On May 9, 2015, the athlete provided an in-competition sample for doping test purposes, during a rowing event in Belgium. The sample of the athlete showed the presence of cocaine which is a prohibited substances according the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2015 prohibited list. It is regarded as a non-specified substance.

History
The athlete admitted the charge. The athlete explained that he had used cocaine at a party on May 7, 2015. He had not been expecting to race, however he was needed to race after all. He had used the cocaine after consuming a large quantity of alcohol.
The panel considers the use of the cocaine as unintentional because is was used out-of-competition.

Decision
- The sanction is a period of ineligibility of two years commencing on March 9, 2015 until March 8, 2017.