UK Anti-Doping v RFL player

A decision in the case of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) against Athlete Q has been issued by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).

On 23 April 2025, Athlete Q was notified by UKAD that he may have committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for Presence of a Metabolite of a Prohibited Substance, in a Sample taken on 8 February 2025, and Use of the same Prohibited Substance. This notification further imposed a Provisional Suspension with immediate effect.

On 12 August 2025, UKAD formally issued Athlete Q with a Notice of Charge for committing the ADRVs pursuant to Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) Articles 2.1 and 2.2.

The NADP Tribunal comprised of Christopher Quinlan KC (Chair), Doctor Chinyere Ezewuzie, and Professor Dorian Haskard, who were appointed to determine this matter.

Athlete Q accepted that he had Used the prohibited substances as part of a personal bodybuilding program but that he had no intention of gaining any advantage in his performance as an amateur rugby player. He stated that in Using the prohibited substances he never intended to commit any ADRVs, and that he had not been aware that he was subject to anti-doping rules.

The Tribunal found that Athlete Q had not proved the source of the prohibited substances on the balance of probabilities and had failed to discharge his burden of proving that the ADRVs concerning the prohibited substances were not intentional.

Accordingly, the Tribunal found that Athlete Q had committed ADRVs pursuant to ADR Articles 2.1 and 2.2 and sanctioned him with a six-year period of Ineligibility, following UKAD establishing aggravating circumstances. Given that Athlete Q had been subject to a Provisional Suspension since 23 April 2025 and there was no evidence that he had not observed the Provisional Suspension, the six-year period of Ineligibility was set to run from 23 April 2025 and end at midnight 22 April 2031.

A copy of the full decision can be accessed in the Related Documents section.

The NADP is the United Kingdom’s independent tribunal responsible for adjudicating anti-doping disputes in sport. It is operated by Sport Resolutions and is entirely independent of UK Anti-Doping who is responsible for investigating, charging, and prosecuting cases before the NADP.