In September 2010 Agenţia Naţională Anti-Doping (ANAD), the National Anti-Doping Agency of Romania, has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Player after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance hydrocholorthiazide.
The Player filed a statement with evidence in his defence and was heard for the ANAD Hearing Commission.
The Player stated he used medication for hypertension. He submitted medical documentation from doctors in Romania and the USA in support of his statement and submitted a request for a retroactive TUE for hydrochlorothiazide.
On 27 October 2010 the ANAD Hearing Commission decided, based on the “retroactive TUE granted” and the Player’s medical condition, to eliminate the provisional suspension and to sanction the Player with a reprimand.
After notification in February 2011 by FIBA the Player filed a statement in his defence and was heard for the FIBA Disciplinary Panel. Hereafter the Panel considers the facts in this case:
- the Player’s medical condition and respective treatment with the substance Hydrochlorothiazide is established through a series of medical reports by doctors in the USA and in Romania and also through the ANAD TUE decision;
- at the time of the doping control the Player was in the process of gathering his medical file from USA upon recommendation of the team doctor in order to request a TUE;
- the Player had not participated in any competitions before the doping control, which was conducted as part of the process to obtain a license in Romania, and he was simply preparing with the team for the upcoming season;
- the Player noted on the doping control form that he was taking “blood pressure medicine ”;
- the Player had no intention to enhance his performance.
Therefore the FIBA Disciplinary Committee decides a 1 month period of ineligibility.