Australian Government: Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) today acknowledged the decision of the Leagues Anti-Doping Tribunal (the Tribunal) to impose a sports ban on Country Rugby League player Jake Law for the attempted use of clenbuterol.

As a government authority, ASADA works closely with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to investigate the trafficking of prohibited drugs, medications and substances.

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service intercepted a package on 28 January 2011 and notified ASADA. Following an extensive investigation by ASADA, the matter was referred to the Country Rugby League as a potential violation of its anti-doping policy.

The Tribunal imposed a two-year ban on Mr Law for the attempted use of a prohibited substance. The ban, which was backdated to the date of his provisional suspension, means he is ineligible to participate as an athlete or support person in sports with a World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) compliant anti-doping policy until 19 December 2014.

Possession, use or attempted use by athletes of clenbuterol is prohibited at all times under the Code, and penalties for breaches can potentially include a lifetime ban for second offences.

An athlete does not have to succeed in using a prohibited substance or method – if there is sufficient evidence that the athlete has attempted to use a prohibited substance or method, they can be sanctioned.

Unsupervised use of clenbuterol can worsen pre-existing heart conditions or hypertension, and there is a risk of overdose and stroke when used at high doses. It is a potentially dangerous drug that, as well as being banned under the Code, is not approved for human use in Australia.

This matter serves as a timely reminder to all athletes to exercise the utmost caution in checking the contents of products and supplements to ensure they don’t contain prohibited substances, particularly those purchased over the internet.

ASADA’s website – www.asada.gov.au – has a comprehensive range of anti-doping information and educational materials, including an online Check Your Substances tool, to help athletes understand and meet their anti-doping responsibilities. ASADA can also be contacted directly on 13 000 ASADA (27232).

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Media note: The attempted use rule violation is one of eight anti-doping rule violations an athlete or support person can commit under the Code.

The Victorian Athletic League’s (VAL) decision to impose a sports ban on Tommy Toskas for failing to submit to out-of-competition testing was today welcomed by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

The four-year ban was accepted by Mr Toskas after he unsuccessfully challenged, in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), the original decision of Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel (ADRVP) to place him on the Register of Findings.

Mr Toskas’ ban was greater than the standard two-year sanction because he engaged in deceptive or obstructing conduct to avoid the detection or adjudication of an anti-doping rule violation.

ASADA attended a training session at Melbourne Olympic Park on 21 February 2011 and informed Mr Toskas he was required to provide a urine and blood sample.

Mr Toskas refused to provide these samples, attempted to mask his identity, did not provide appropriate identification, and ultimately evaded the ASADA Chaperone by entering his car and driving away.

All athletes must comply with a request by ASADA to provide a sample. Athletes are warned that a refusal to submit to sample collection after being notified of the obligation to do so may result in an anti-doping rule violation being declared against them.

The ban imposed on Mr Toskas means he is ineligible to participate as an athlete or support person, in any sport that has adopted a World Anti-Doping Agency compliant anti-doping policy until 1 February 2017.

Any athletes unaware of their responsibilities are encouraged to seek additional information online at ASADA’s website www.asada.gov.au

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Media notes:

• the Register of Findings is the formal register of anti-doping rule violations and associated details.
• the Failure to Comply rule violation is one of eight anti-doping rule violations an athlete or support person can commit under the World Anti-Doping Code.
• examples of aggravating circumstances, which may justify the imposition of a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction, are available on page 65 of the World Anti-Doping Code.
• the full decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal can be found via this link: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/aat/2012/662.html

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) commends the National Rugby League (NRL) in the announcement today of its 2013 Anti-Doping program.

ASADA Chief Executive Aurora Andruska said that the NRL’s anti-doping program was as comprehensive as any in world sport and was tailored to meet both emerging threats in doping, while providing an ongoing deterrent against substances and methods prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

“Rugby League already has a comprehensive anti-doping testing program, but the latest program now takes their commitment to a new level in protecting the sport from the threat of doping,” said Ms Andruska.

ASADA and the NRL remain firmly committed to working together for the good of the game and the health of the players.

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