NADAP 2015 Eman Xuereb vs National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta - Appeal
September 20, 2015

In December 2014 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violtion against the Athlete Eman Xuereb after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance cocaine. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of Malta.

The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that he had smoked a cannabis cigarette with friends at a party and he didn’t know that it also contained cocaine. The Athlete argued that the use was out of competition 36 hours before he provided a sample and without intention to enhance his performance.

With strict liability and without mitigating circumstances the Panel decides on 29 April to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension i.e. on 2 December 2014.

Related case:
NADAP 2015 Steve Camilleri vs National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta - Appeal
July 31, 2015

In December 2014 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violtion against the Athlete Steve Camilleri for evading the sample collection.
After notification of the violation a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of Malta.

The Maltese Doping Control Officers (DCO) testified that the Athlete was notified on 15 January 2015 at the Sport Complex to provide a sample for drug testing. Hereafter the Athlete was on his mobile phone, walked away and left the sport complex without providing a sample. Other withnesses testified that the Athlete was approached by the DCO’s at the Sport Complex on that day.
The Athlete denied the violation and stated on that day at the Sport Complex no one had notified him to provide a sample and said that he didn’t recognize the two DCO’s.

Considering the statements and evidence the Panel concludes that on 15 January 2015 the Athlete was duly notified by the DCO’s to provide a sample for drug testing.
The Panel finds it very unlikely that the Athlete claimed that he didn’t recognize the two DCO’s in spite of he had contact before with these DCO’s when he provided a sample. Also the Panel finds that the Athlete failed to contact his coach after he had received serveral calls from his coach about the doping control.

Therefore the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel rules that the Athlete with intention evaded the sample collection and decides on 29 April 2015 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the decision.

Related cases:

• NADAP 2016 Charlton Abela vs National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta - Appeal
  August 31, 2016
• NADDP 2020 ADC vs Charlton Abela
  January 25, 2021

In October 2015 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Charlton Abela after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance cocaine. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of Malta.

The Athlete denied the use of cocaine and stated that he only had used an over the counter medication for tooth-aching and argued that the sample container wasn’t properly sealed during the sample collection procedure.

The Panel deems that the sample collection procedure, the chain of custody and the test results were valid whereas the presence of a prohibited substance had been established in the Athlete's sample.

Therefore the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 24 March 2016 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete.

In October 2015 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Clyde Cutajar after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance nandrolone.

After notification the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he did not attend the hearing of the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of Malta. The Athlete submitted that it wasn’t his intention to violate the anti-doping rules.

The National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel concludes that the test results establish the anti-doping violation and decides on 2 March 2016 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete.

In December 2015 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Dusty Cassar after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance boldenone.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of Malta.
The Athlete admitted the use of the substance two months prior to the competition where he was tested and without intention to enhance his performance for the Regatta.

The Panel concludes that the test results establish the anti-doping violation and considers the his explanation that the substance wasn’t intentionally used for the Regatta not an excuse.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 2 March 2016 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of his provisional suspension.

In October 2015 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Gordon Dimitri after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substances nandrolone, drostanolone and cocaine. After notification the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of Malta.

The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that he has used at the gym the substances nandrolone and drostanlone about 2 months prior to the competition where he was tested and without intention to enhance his performance for the Regatta. He did not admit the use of cocaine.

The Panel did not accept the Athlete’s statement and concludes that the test results establish the anti-doping violation without grounds for a reduced sanction.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 24 March 2016 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete.

In April 2016 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Ishmael Grech after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance cocaine. After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete was heard for the National Anti-Doping Panel of Malta.

The Athlete admitted the violation and stated that the substance was used two days before the competition when he was out for drinks with his friends. He asserted that after some amounts of alcohol he had used cocaine without intention to enhance his performance.

The Panel accepts the Athlete’s explanation and that the violation wasn’t intentional. Considering the circumstances the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 27 July 2016 to impose a 1 year and 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 29 April 2016.

In October 2015 the National Anti-Doping Commission of Malta has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete Mario Azzopardi after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance nandrolone.

After notification the Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel of Malta. The Athlete stated that he was treated with prescribed testosterone for his condition and he did not mention his medication on the Doping Control Form.

The Panel finds that the Athlete’s prescribed medication isn’t consistent with the nandrolone found in his sample and he had no TUE for both the substances testosterone and nandrolone.
Therefore the National Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel decides on 24 March 2016 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete.