UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) v Darren Eales

To optimise for archiving, the original image and related documents associated with this article have been removed.

A decision in the case of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) v Darren Eales has been published by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).

On 23 February 2019 Mr Darren Eales, a rugby union player in Scotland registered with Preston Lodge RFC, provided a urine Sample In-Competition at a fixture against Dumfries Saints RFC. The urine Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for stanozolol-N-glucoronide, a metabolite of stanozolol.

Mr Brown was subsequently charged on 21 June 2019 with a breach of Article 21.2.1 of the World Rugby Regulations for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in his Sample. This represents the second occasion that Mr Eales has been charged with violating the Anti-Doping Regulations (ADR).

The NADP Tribunal, consisting of Mark Hovell, Lorraine Johnson and Professor Brian Lunn found that Mr Eales had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation contrary to Article 21.2.1 and therefore imposed a period of Ineligibility of eight years, running from 23 February 2019 until midnight on 22 February 2027.

A copy of the full decision can be accessed via the related links tab on the right-hand side.

The National Anti-Doping Panel (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.

You may also like

View All

Pinned Article

Sport Resolutions Annual Conference 2026: Early Bird Tickets Now on Sale

Early Bird tickets for the Sport Resolutions 11th Annual Conference are now available. Join leading sport and legal professionals in London on 7 May 2026 for a full day of discussion, insight, and networking

Read More

Ukrainian skeleton athlete barred after helmet tribute dispute

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been removed from the Winter Olympics after refusing to stop wearing a helmet honouring athletes killed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The IOC said the tribute breached competition rules, despite attempts to reach a compromise

Read More

Vonn incident raises questions surrounding athlete autonomy

Following American athlete Lindsey Vonn’s horrific crash during the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics where she broke her leg, questions have arisen surrounding athlete autonomy as Vonn decided to compete after suffering another injury just over a week prior

Read More