Saturday 28 April 2012

Zero-tolerance ban of clenbuterol under consideration

A bronchodilator that also is sometimes used to build muscle, Clenbuterol, could be prohibited at any level in post-race tests for Thoroughbreds in California as early as this summer.

The suggestion came at the California Horse Racing Board track safety and medication committee meeting.

From Drf.com:
Clenbuterol would not be allowed in post-race tests at any level if the prohibition is enacted. Currently, clenbuterol is allowed to appear in post-race tests of Thoroughbreds up to a limit of five nanograms in urine and 25 picograms in blood. Trainers face penalties if horses test in excess of those levels.
The committee recommended that the full racing board discuss the prohibition of clenbuterol at its monthly meeting in April or May. If the racing board votes to fully prohibit the use of clenbuterol, the rule could take effect within a few months, after horsemen are allowed time to modify their use of the medication.
Concerns by University of California-Davis officials were expressed that illegal variations of clenbuterol are being used for building muscle mass and not for respiratory purposes.

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Tory minister's son banned for using steroids

The son of Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has been barred from taking part in any rugby match or tournament until October 19, 2013.

The 17-year-old Jonathan was banned after admitting to the banned substances, the sport's ruling body confirmed.

Jonathan admitted taking a number of drugs, including anabolic steroids and a growth hormone, when he appeared before an independent disciplinary tribunal on March 26.
In February the Spelman family tried to suppress details about the case being published through a High Court injunction but later issued a statement saying Jonathan was "deeply sorry" for taking the substances.
Panel chairman Christopher Quinlan QC said: "In fixing the appropriate period of suspension, the tribunal had regard to all the relevant matters advanced during the course of the hearing, including the player's youth, immaturity and admissions.
"It therefore reduced by three months the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility of two years and imposed a period of ineligibility (suspension) of 21 months."
"Our prime concern now is to support Jonny with his studies and coping with the ban," the Cabinet minister said.

Thursday 19 April 2012

Two-year drug ban for Canoeist

According to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), Australian canoeing had banned Canoeist Michael Baker after he tested positive for androstatrienedione.

Androstatrienedione is the same drug that in the 1990s caused a furor in US baseball.
ASADA describes the substance, nicknamed andro, as "a hormone antagonist and modulator''.
"Andro" was the drug which in 1998 slugger Mark McGwire was revealed as taking, while on the way to breaking the American Major Leagues single-season home run record.
While the substance was banned at the Olympics, it was not prohibited in the Major Leagues and was not classed as an anabolic steroid in the United States until 2004.
"Hormone antagonists and modulators can cause side effects including osteoporosis, liver toxicity, and cardiovascular disorders,'' ASADA said in the statement announcing ban on Baker.

Saturday 14 April 2012

Former Barrington man accused of multiple drug charges

After police found trash bags filled with marijuana and pills near a Hall Road residence last year, a former Barrington man will be facing multiple drug .

Last month, Andrew Clement was indicted on four felony charges of acts prohibited.
The house searched by police last April was situated close to a lake, and a K9 search revealed several trash bags washed up on shore close to where Clement had emerged from in the woods.
Inside the trash bags were more than 8.25 pounds of marijuana, over 2,200 pills, and needles and vials of anabolic steroids, according to the affidavit.
After a search warrant police also seized various pills, marijuana, a grinder, a glass bong, a smoking bowl, and rolling papers from the Hall Road residence.
Although a search warrant has been issued for Clement's arrest last week, after he did not appear for his arraignment at the Strafford County Superior Court, Clement's motion to vacate the warrant was granted, after Clement explained he ran out of gas on the way to court.
It has been alleged that the 30-year-old Clement last year was in possession of schedule IV drug clonazepam, schedule III anabolic steroid methandrostenolone, more than five pounds of marijuana, and schedule IV drug diazepam.

Tuesday 10 April 2012

East Perth player returns positive test

An East Perth player has returned a positive A-sample to a random drug test, according to a confirmation by the WA Football League.
To confirm the finding, the WAFL is now waiting for the result of a B-Sample test.
It has been reported the Royals player - who has played league this season - returned a positive test which contained traces of cocaine and an anabolic steroid.
If the B-Sample comes back positive, then the player will front the WAFL Tribunal.
The player, who cannot be named, could face a two-year suspension from the game if convicted.
East Perth general manager Alex Wilson said the player had been stood down pending the result of the B-Sample.
"The situation will be clarified later this week in respect of the B-sample," Wilson told ABC Radio.

Friday 6 April 2012

Commenee defends actions over tainted coach

Charles van Commenee, the head coach of UK Athletics, has defended his role to introduce British discus thrower Brett Morse to Sweden-based Vesteinn Hafsteinsson, the present coach of the discus thrower.
Hafsteinsson was banned for two years for testing positive for nandrolone while competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
Morse’s former coach, Nigel Bevan, has accused Van Commenee of encouraging the 22-year-old to link up with Hafsteinsson and claims UK Athletics orchestrated the move. The governing body insists it was Morse's own decision to switch.
Bevan had coached for Morse for four years at his Cardiff training stable, taking him from junior level to the brink of world-class standard, but the athlete severed ties with him this summer. The move to Hafsteinsson, whom UK Athletics has confirmed is now Morse’s main coach, is controversial because of the governing body’s zero-tolerance stance towards drugs.
“He is a very strong advocate against drugs. He is the leader of an IAAF-accredited training centre in Europe. I have no doubts about his integrity and I see no problem,” said Van Commenee.

Monday 2 April 2012

Possession of steroids leads to charges

After a large number of cannabis plants were found in a home, a man has been charged by police following a tip-off about a hydroponic cannabis set-up on the NSW central.
A search warrant was executed by police on the home in Turpentine Street, Wyoming after receiving information about the house.
A 32-year-old man was arrested at the house, before police then searched his property nearby, discovering 524 grams of cannabis, a large sum of cash, anabolic steroids and prescription drugs.
He has been charged with drug-related offences, recklessly deal with the proceeds of crime, possess prescribed restricted substance, use electricity without authorisation and alter or interfere with meter without authority.
Police officials discovered 152 cannabis plants, 13kg of dried cannabis, cash, and anabolic steroids.