Related case:
World Rugby 2017 Aaron Davis vs WR – Appeal
July 19, 2018
In March 2017 World Rugby has reported an anti-doping rule violations against the American rugby player Aaron Davis after his A and B samples tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone). After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the World Rugby Judicial Committee.
The Athlete admitted the violation, denied the intentional use and requested for a reduced sanction. He asserted that the violation was inadvertent and was caused by his use of a contaminated multi-vitamin/multi-mineral product called “Animal Pak”.
Much of the evidence and the submissions received at the hearing concerned the possibility of the Animal Pak supplement being contaminated. Expert testimony was tendered by both the Athlete and World Rugby and evidence was also received from an executive of the manufacturer of Animal Pak.
World Rugby requested for a sanction of 4 years and contended that the violation was intentional since the Athlete failed to establish that product Animal Pak was the source of his positive test.
The Committee established that neither the Montreal Lab or the Salt Lake City Lab found any 19-norandrosterone or other Nandrolone substance in their analysis of the product Animal Pak. As a consequence the Committee finds that the Athlete has failed to establish, on a balance of probabilities, that his positive test was caused by a contaminated supplement or that his anti-doping rule violation was not intentional.
Further the Committee holds that the Athlete was engaged in conduct which he knew constituted an anti-doping rule violation or knew that there was a significant risk that the conduct might constitute or result in an anti-doping rule violation and manifestly disregarded that risk.
Therefore the World Rugby Judicial Committee decides on 27 November 2017 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 16 March 2017.