UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has announced that cyclist Andrew Hastings has been suspended from all sport for four years following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).
The British Masters champion, who competed for Richardsons-Trek RT, tested positive for two anabolic steroids: Metenolone (Primobolan), its metabolite and a metabolite of Stanozolol (Winstrol). The findings came as a result of an in-competition test at the 2015 Team Time Trial National Championship in Newark on 30 May, 2015. This event was promoted under the rules and regulations of Cycling Time Trials (CTT). Richardsons-Trek RT finished second and has been disqualified from the event and their result annulled.
UKAD’s Director of Operations, Pat Myhill, remarked that the message from UK Anti-Doping is clear that the use of any prohibited substances in sport will not be tolerated. Myhill added the Hastings case is the perfect example of how an individual makes choices which not only cheat himself but cheats his team mates and his opposition and also said that choice has resulted in a four-year ban from all sport.
The UKAD’s Director of Operations also commented that the actions of Hastings more importantly put him at risk of seriously damaging his health and also commented that anabolic androgenic steroids, and steroid use, continue to be a concern for UKAD and we are seeing an increase in the number of men turning to them for performance enhancing effects but also for cosmetic reasons. Myhill also commented that often these steroids are bought with no consideration for where the products come from or how they are made. Pat Myhill also remarked UK Anti-Doping relies on information from a wide range of sources, not only to catch those who choose consciously to go against the spirit of sport, but to also unearth the root cause of the problem – those who supply these substances. Myhill also said he would encourage anyone who has information about doping, or the supply of prohibited substances, to come forward and talk to us in confidence.
The use of anabolic androgenic steroids under expert supervision and at controlled dosages is not perceived as harmful by some. However, steroid abuse or use of low-grade anabolic drugs can lead to side effects, mild or severe.
In another development, British junior TT champion Gabriel Evans has admitted the use of Erythropoietin, the blood booster. Evans, who won the London Youth Games Cycling TT in 2013 and took the national junior 25 mile time trial championships one year later, apologized to his supporters and to the competitors in the national 10-mile championship. The confession of Evans has stunned British cyclists as the rider is just 18 years of age. Evans admitted that he bought EPO for the first time on 3 August 2015 and traveled to France on 11 August 2015 for a week’s training camp with the family of a then-teammate. Evans added he brought one vial of EPO that was found by father of the roommate who presented evidence to UK Anti-Doping after which he admitted to all wrongdoing before a UKAD deposition.
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