UK Anti-Dopings visselblåsare avslöjar rekordmånga dopingfall 2024

Den brittiske tyngdlyftaren Elliot King har fått en femårig avstängning från all idrott efter att ha brutit mot antidopingreglerna genom förekomst och användning av fyra förbjudna substanser.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) samlade in ett urinprov från Mr. King den 12 april 2024 vid Home Nations Squads and UK Armed Forces Tournament 2024. Analys av hans prov visade positiva resultat för de förbjudna substanserna nandrolon, oxandrolon och drostanolon (och deras metaboliter), samt för metaboliter av den förbjudna substansen metandienon.

Mr. King informerades av UKAD den 12 och 20 juni 2024 om de påstådda antidopingregelöverträdelserna och blev provisoriskt avstängd. Tyngdlyftaren svarade genom att bekräfta att de förbjudna substanserna hade kommit in i hans system genom “avsiktlig och medveten självadministration i syfte att öka muskelmassan”.

Därefter anklagade UKAD Mr. King för antidopingregelöverträdelserna. Enligt World Anti-Doping Code kan sanktioner förlängas med ytterligare två år på grund av försvårande omständigheter, såsom användning av flera förbjudna substanser. Efter att ha bedömt omständigheterna i Mr. Kings fall ansåg UKAD att de försvårande omständigheterna i detta fall var sådana att Mr. Kings fyraåriga avstängning borde förlängas med ytterligare två år, vilket leder till en total avstängningsperiod på sex år.

Mr. King svarade på anklagelsen genom att erkänna antidopingregelöverträdelserna och acceptera avstängningsperioden inom 20 dagar efter anklagelsebrevet. Genom att göra detta kunde han, i enlighet med UK Anti-Doping Rules, minska den fastställda sexåriga avstängningsperioden till fem år.

Med hänsyn till den tid han varit provisoriskt avstängd anses Mr. Kings femåriga avstängningsperiod ha börjat den 12 juni 2024 och kommer att löpa ut den 11 juni 2029.

Hamish Coffey, UKAD:s operativa chef, sade:

“2021 års World Anti-Doping Code möjliggör införandet av en längre avstängning under vissa omständigheter, inklusive fall som detta, där en idrottare avsiktligt har använt flera förbjudna substanser. Sådana substanser har ingen plats inom idrotten, och idrottare bör vara medvetna om att om de medvetet försöker skaffa sig en prestationshöjande fördel på detta sätt, kommer UKAD att vidta kraftfulla åtgärder för att säkerställa att den påförda avstängningen speglar allvaret i idrottarens beteende.”

17 August 2023

A UKAD spokesperson, said:

“UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) can today confirm that it has filed an appeal in respect of a decision handed down by the independent National Anti-Doping Panel regarding anti-doping proceedings brought by UKAD against Mr Conor Benn.

“As confirmed previously in UKAD’s statement on 28 July 2023, Mr Benn is no longer subject to a provisional suspension.

“The appeal process will now be followed in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules.

“UKAD issues this statement in accordance with Article 14.3.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code and is not able to make any further public disclosures at this time.”

28 July 2023

A UKAD spokesperson, said:

“In April 2023 UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) took the exceptional step of publicly disclosing details of Mr Conor Benn’s provisional suspension and charge following reports from the media and comments made by Mr Benn himself. UKAD’s statement also confirmed that the case would follow the Results Management process in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules.

“UKAD notes that Mr Benn has made further public comments today regarding proceedings before the independent National Anti-Doping Panel. UKAD can confirm Mr Benn is no longer provisionally suspended under the UK Anti-Doping Rules.

“The UK Anti-Doping Rules detail limited circumstances in which UKAD is able to make public disclosures about ongoing cases.  They also set out a clear process within which cases can be heard and decisions can be handed down by the independent National Anti-Doping Panel.  Where case decisions are handed down by a panel, the Rules provide all relevant parties with a right of appeal.  Under the Rules, UKAD has 21 days from the date of receipt of a decision to file any appeal. UKAD carefully reviews all decisions in its cases before deciding whether to exercise its right of appeal.

“UKAD is not able to make any further public disclosures in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules at this time.”

20 April 2023

A UKAD spokesperson, said:

“Following a public consultation in late 2020, and having considered the results of that consultation, UKAD’s Board decided in February 2021 that UKAD will not routinely publicly disclose the fact that an Athlete has been charged or provisionally suspended before a charge has been resolved. However, it was also recognised that there might be limited and rare examples where it is appropriate to do so in ‘exceptional circumstances’, as set out in UKAD’s Policy on Public disclosure of provisional suspensions and charges available here.

“Following reports in the media and comments made by professional boxer Mr Conor Benn on Tuesday 18 April 2023, and in exceptional circumstances, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) confirms that Mr Benn was notified and provisionally suspended by UKAD on 15 March 2023 in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules. Whilst provisionally suspended Mr Benn is prohibited from participating in any capacity (or assisting another Athlete in any capacity) in a Competition, Event or activity that is organised, convened, authorised or recognised by the British Boxing Board of Control or any other World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport.

“UKAD can also confirm that on 3 April 2023 it charged Mr Benn with an Article 2.2 violation for the alleged Use of a Prohibited Substance (clomifene). The charge against Mr Benn is pending and will now follow the Results Management process in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules.

“UKAD issues this statement in accordance with its Policy on Public disclosure of provisional suspensions and charges and Articles 7.10.7 and 7.11.5 of the UK Anti-Doping Rules. UKAD will not be providing any further comment at this stage.”

15 October 2022

UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD) Chief Executive, Jane Rumble, said: “UKAD takes all matters of suspected doping activity very seriously. We act on all reports of doping and encourage anyone with information on suspected doping activity to come forward and share that with us in confidence via our Protect Your Sport initiative.

“UKAD will not comment publicly on the specific facts of any case that may or may not be ongoing. We do this to respect and ensure the confidentiality of information as required by the World Anti-Doping Code and other applicable laws and regulations. Athletes know their rights and responsibilities when it comes to anti-doping and we will continue to work tirelessly to remove anyone from sport that breaks the rules.”

6 October 2022

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Chief Executive, Jane Rumble said, “UKAD notes the reporting of a failed VADA test by the boxer Conor Benn with concern. UKAD acts on all reports of doping and always encourages anyone with information on suspected doping activity to come forward and share that with us.”