Ystalyfera player Jesse Patton has been suspended from all sport for a period of four years following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).
UKAD collected an Out-of-Competition urine Sample from Mr Patton on 24 September 2019 at an Ystalyfera training session Analysis of Mr Patton’s Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for five metabolites of metandienone.
Metandienone is classified as an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid under section S1.1(a) of the WADA 2019 Prohibited List. It is a non-Specified Substance and is prohibited at all times.
Mr Patton was charged with violating Anti-Doping Rule Article 2.1 – “Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample”.
Mr Patton was not able to establish how the five metabolites of metandienone entered his system and as a consequence could not establish that his ADRV was not “intentional”, as required to do so by the Anti-Doping Rules. The National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP), a tribunal independent from UKAD, therefore concluded that a four-year ban must be imposed.
Stacey Cross, UKAD Deputy Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs said: “Our message to athletes is clear. Steroids and other prohibited substances have no place in sport. If you take the risk, you could be facing a ban from sport as a result.”
Mr Patton’s four-year period of Ineligibility started on 8 November 2019, the date he was provisionally suspended and will run until midnight on 7 November 2023.
In addition Ebbw Vale player Lance Randall has been suspended from all sport for a period of two years following a first Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected a urine Sample from Mr Randall In-Competition on 26 October 2019, following a match against Llanelli. Analysis of Mr Randall’s A Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine.
UKAD issued Mr Randall with a Notice of Charge and a Provisional Suspension on 22 November 2019. In admitting the ADRV, Mr Randall explained that the AAF was a result of Out-of-Competition ingestion of cocaine in a context unrelated to sport performance.
Cocaine is listed under section S6(a) Non-Specified Stimulants of the WADA 2019 Prohibited List, which states that the substance is banned In-Competition only.
Mr Randall was charged with violating Anti-Doping Rule Article 2.1 – “Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample”.
Stacey Cross, UKAD Deputy Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs said: “Unfortunately, we continue to see cases like Mr Randall’s. Cocaine is not banned when used recreationally and Out-of-Competition. However, it can stay in the body for some time after use. Therefore, athletes need to be aware that if they participate in sport after using cocaine, they could be tested and may face a ban of up to four years, depending on when it was taken.
“In Mr Randall’s case, an independent expert considered Mr Randall’s account of Out-of-Competition cocaine use and concluded that the AAF accorded with that explanation, therefore a two-year ban applies.”
Considering Mr Randall’s timely admission, the two-year period of Ineligibility started on 26 October 2019 and will expire at midnight on 25 October 2021.
WRU Operations Director Julie Paterson added, “It’s vital that players at every level of the game are aware of the risks they are taking if they decide to consume substances of any kind, for performance-enhancing or recreational reasons.
“We now have Club Integrity Officers embedded in the community game throughout Wales, promoting anti-doping education and providing advice to players.
“The focus within our anti-doping education is on supporting players so that they make good decisions on and off the field, in order to safeguard their health, well-being and the integrity of the game, especially in these trying times.”
Go to wru.wales/antidoping for all the latest advice.
