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The Athlete in this redacted case lived overseas between 2006 and 2021 and played rugby between 2006 and 2015. In 2015 he was forced to stop playing rugby because of physical and mental health issues he suffered and his health deteriorated from then on.

In 2020 still residing overseas he started an aggressive medical regime with prescribed prohibited substances that improved his health. In mid-2021 he returned to New Zealand while he continued his medical treatment.

Following his return to New Zealand he was originally not playing rugby. However he was asked to play rugby in Auckland in 2022 and played as an recreational athlete approximately six club games.

In 2022 the New Zealand Customs Service intercepted a package addressed to the Athlete. Besides permitted substances the package contained three prohibited substances:

• BPC-157;
• Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG); and
• Ipamorelin.

After the interception the Athlete was informed by Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) that these substances were prohibited under the Sport Anti-Doping Rules. Thereupon his application for a Retrospective TUE was rejected and a provision suspension was ordered in August 2023.

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

With evidence the Athlete testified about the health issues he suffered and the medical treatment he underwent. He explained that due to the Covid Pandemic Limitation in New Zealand he continued to consult with his overseas specialist at the material time and he imported the prescribed prohibited substances in order to maintain his medical treatment.

In May 2024 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 Anti-Doping Judicial Committee.

In view of the evidence the Judicial Committee determines that the Athlete had admitted the violation and that he acted not intentionally. The Committee agrees that he was unaware that his use of the prohibited substances to treat his medical condition would be an issue as an recreational Athlete.

Therefore the New Zealand Rugby Union Anti-Doping Judicial Committee decides on 9 July 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 9 August 2023.

In July 2024 the New Zealand Sport Integrity Commission (SIC) reported an anti-doping rule violations against the softball player Isaia Walker-Leawere after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold.

After notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived her right to be heard, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the SIC.
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 Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.

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

Therefore the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand decides on 29 August 2024 to impose a 1 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, ending on 15 August 2024.

In July 2024 World Rugby reported an anti-doping rule violation against the South African rugby player S'Busiso Nkosi after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Boldenone.

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

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

Therefore World Rugby decides on 5 September 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 16 July 2024.

In July 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Rodgers Ondaji Gesabwa after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cocaine.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete accepted the test result and filed a statement in his defence.

The Athlete explained that in May 2024 in the hotel in Lima, Peru, at breakfast he most likely had consumed coca tea, which was accessible to all hotel guests.

After investigations the AIU accepted that the coca tea in the hotel in Lima was the source of the positive test. As a result the AIU deems that ingestion of coca tea occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance.

Thereupon in October 2024 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. He also signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

Therefore the AIU decides on 9 October 2024 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 10 July 2024.

In August 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Charles Kipkkurui Langat after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Furosemide.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete accepted the test result and filed a statement in his defence.

The Athlete explained that he suffered from inflammation since September 2023 and underwent medical treatment for his condition. When his sickness worsened he was advised in August 2024 to use Furosemide for 4 days.

Ultimately in September 2024 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. He also signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

The AIU deems that there is no evidence that the Athlete's violation was intentional. Finally the AIU determines there are no grounds for a reduced sanction.

Therefore the AIU decides on 8 October 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 6 August 2024.

In August 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Ethiopian Athlete Yimer Bililign after her A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substances Prednisolone and Prednisone. Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered.

The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substances and could not explain how they had entered her system. Besides two regular medication she asserted that she had not used anything else.

Ultimately in October 2024 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. She also signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

The AIU considers that there is no evidence that the Athlete's violation was intentional. Finally the AIU deems there are no grounds for a reduced sanction.

Therefore the AIU decides on 2 October 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 6 September 2024.

In August the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Faith Chepkoech after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Recombinant Erythropoietin (RhEPO).

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. She acknowledged that she had been injected with an unknown substance by an unknown person in July 2024.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Because she 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 24 September 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 6 September 2023.

In August 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violations against the Moroccan Athlete Taoufik Allam after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Recombinant Erythropoietin (RhEPO).

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. 

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Because he had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form he received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 24 September 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 16 August 2024.

In August 2021 the boxer Jack Ewbank was arrested by the police for the supply of Cocaine and possession of criminal property. In September 2023 the Athlete pleaded guilty in court and he was sentenced for 29 months.

Hereafter United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) became aware that the Athlete had received criminal convictions and opened an investigation. Thereupon in February 2024 UKAD reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Athlete for trafficking or attempted trafficking of a prohibited substance.

Following notification to the Athlete at the prison he initially failed to respond. Ultimately in August 2024 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by UKAD.

Therefore UKAD decides on 25 September 2024 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 1 February 2024. 

In April 2024 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Kieran Goss after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold. 

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 acknowledged that he had used Cannabis recreationally at the material time. In view of the evidence UKAD accepted that the violation occurred out-of-competition and in a context unrelated to sport performance.

Therefore UKAD decides on 19 September 2024 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 29 June 2022. Because the Athlete had already served the period of ineligibility he is eligible to participate in sport forthwith.