The Essendon Football Club supplements controversy (commonly known as the Essendon supplements saga) is a sports controversy which began in late 2011. The Essendon Football Club, a professional Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL), was investigated starting in February 2013 by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over the legality of its supplements program during the 2012 AFL season and the preceding preseason.

The initial stages of the investigation in 2013 made no findings regarding the legality of the supplements program. Still, they highlighted a wide range of governance and duty-of-care failures relating to the program. In August 2013, the AFL fined Essendon $2 million, barred the club from the 2013 finals series, and suspended senior coach James Hird and general manager Danny Corcoran as a result of these findings.

After four years of investigations and legal proceedings the AFL and ASADA reported in November 2014 multiple anti-doping rule violations against 34 current and former players of the Essendon Football Club for the use of prohibited substance Thymosin Beta-4 and their involvement in prohibited methods.

Following assessment of the evidence the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal is comfortably satisfied that TB4 was a prohibited substance under the AFL Code at the relevant time. However the Tribunal is not comfortably satisfied that each player was injected with TB4. As a result the Tribunal is not comfortably satisfied that any Athlete had violated clause 11.2 of the AFL Anti-Doping Code.

Therefore the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal decides on 31 March 2015 to dismiss the ASADA reports about multiple anti-doping violations committed by the player of the Australian Essendon Football Club for the administration and use of the prohibited substance Thymosin Beta-4.

In February 2023 the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the football player Ludwig Amla after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Terbutaline.

Because the Athlete refused to accept the sanction of 2 years proposed by CCES the case was referred to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that he suffered from Asthma since childhood. Prior in Europe he used a prescribed inhaler and Bricanyl (Terbutaline) and continued to use this medication after coming to Canada.

The Athlete requested for a reduced sanction and stated that when he joined the football team he underwent medical examination in July 2022. He asserted that he had been transparant and he relied on the team officials to ensure that everything was done properly.

CCES finds that the Athlete's violation was not intentional, yet deemed that the Athlete had acted negligently. Despite the Athlete had followed an anti-doping presentation in July 2022 he thereupon failed in his personal responsibility to recognize that his medication Bricanyl was a prohibited substance.

The Sole Arbitrator accepts that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and finds that the Athlete had acted negligently. The Arbitrator considers that the Athlete had used the medication for several year, yet he was unable to indentify the name of his medication and to report the name of his medication to the team physician.

Therefore the SDRCC Tribunal decides on 14 July 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the notification, i.e. 4 July 2023.

In July 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Perister Bosire Morangi after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Methasterone.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and the case was referred to the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. She explained with medical information that prescribed medication was used in a hospital as treatment for her diagnosed condition.

ADAK contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional, nor how the substance had entered her system. Further ADAK had established that the prescribed medication used for her treatment did not contain prohibited substances.

The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that she committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel determines that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional, nor how the substance had entered her system.

Therefore the Panel decides on 9 June 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on 28 July 2022.

In June 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Mathew Kiplangat Saw after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Triamcinolone acetonide.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and the case was referred to the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal. There were  delays in the proceedings attributed to the Athlete. He repeatedly failed to respond, nor attended the hearing of the Tribunal. 

Prior the Athlete had admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained with medical information that the prescribed substance was used in a hospital as treatment for his knee injury.

ADAK contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional, nor how the substance had entered his system. Also ADAK requested the Panel for an additional sanction because its investigation had established that the medical evidence produced by the Athlete were falsifications.

The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel determines that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional, nor how the substance had entered his system. The Panel deems that the Athlete clearly acted intentionally in view of the falsified medical information.

Therefore the Panel decides on 29 June 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on 11 July 2022.

In May 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Keli Everlyne Syombua after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone and 19-noretiocholanolone (Nandrolone).

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and the case was referred to the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. She explained with medical information that the prescribed substance substance was used in a hospital as treatment for her knee injury.

ADAK contended that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional, nor how the substance had entered her system. Furthermore ADAK's investigation had established that the medical evidence produced by the Athlete were falsifications.

The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that she committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel determines that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional, nor how the substance had entered her system. The Panel deems that the Athlete clearly acted intentionally regarding the falsified medical information.

Therefore the Panel decides on 16 February 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on 12 June 2022.

In November 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the bodybuilder Brandon Abednego Oluoch after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Metandienonen.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and the case was referred to the Kenay Sports Disputes Tribunal.

The Athlete accepted the test result and denied the intentional use of the substance. He stated that he had duly checked the supplements and medication he had used.

ADAK contended that the Athlete had acted intentionally and requested for a sanction of 4 years. ADAK deemed that the Athlete failed to demonstrate how the substance had entered his system.

The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel determines that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation violation was not intentional, nor the source of the prohibited substance. Therefore the Panel decides on 20 July 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete.

In November 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the bodybuilder Joseph Wasike Wesonga after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances Trenbolone and Letrozole.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered whereas the Athlete submitted a brief statement in his defence. Thereupon he failed to cooperate with the proceedings, nor responded to the communications, nor attended the hearing of the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal.

In his brief statement the Athlete denied the intentional use of the substances and alleged that the supplements he had used were the source of the prohibited substances.

ADAK contended that the Athlete's acted intentionally and that he failed to demonstrate how the substances had entered his system. Moreover because his alleged supplements didn't contain prohibited substances.

The Panel finds that the presence of the prohibited substances had been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel deemst that the Athlete's violation was intentional and that he provided no evidence on how the substances had entered his system, nor grounds for a reduced sanction.

Therefore the Panel decides on 29 June 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the decision.

In December 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the bodybuilder Jotham Karani Elahetia after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Hydrochlorothiazide.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal.

The Athlete admitted the violation and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained that as treatment for his swelling without a prescription he had purchased Lasix at a pharmacy.

He asserted that prior he had not received anti-doping education while he was tested for the first time. He acknowledged that he had not mentioned his medication on the Doping Control Form.

The Panel finds that the presence of the prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation.

The Panel determines that that the Athlete's violation was intentional and he demonstrated how the substance had entered his system. Further the Panel considers that he was tested for the first time and had not received anti-doping education.

Therefore the Panel decides on 8 June 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provosional suspension, i.e. on 8 December 2022.

In March 2022 the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the football player Teddy Otiego Osok after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Boldenone.

Following a notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and the case was referred to the Kenya Sports Disputes Tribunal.

The Athlete accepted the test result and denied the intentional use of the substance. He explained with medical information that he underwent treatment for his knee injury and that he had used prescribed medication.

The Panel finds that the presence of a prohibited substance has been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that he committed an anti-doping rule violation. The Panel deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional.

Further the Panel considers that the Athlete's prescribed medication was not the source of the prohibited substance while he failed to mention his medication on the Doping Control Form.

Therefore the Panel decides on 11 May 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 March 2023.

In April 2019 the New Zealand powerlifter Hinewai Hausman was sanctioned for 4 years after she tested positive for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol. In April 2023, Nine days before the Athlete's period of inelgibility was due to expire, she was tested by Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ).

Hereafter in June 2023 DFSNZ reported a new anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete after she tested positive for multiple prohibited substances: 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone), Drostanolone, Metenolone and Oxandrolone.

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission for her second violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted the provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by DFSNZ. Accordingly the case was referred to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand and requested to render an appropriate decision.

The Tribunal deems that the Athlete had committed a second anti-doping rule violation. Because the Athlete gave a prompt admission and accepted her sanction she received a 1 year reduction from the Tribunal.

Therefore the Tribunal decides on 26 July 2023 to impose a 7 year period of inelgibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 23 June 2023.