Graham O'Grady je u siječnju, nakon pobjede na natjecanju održanom u Taurangi, 'pao' na dopinškom testiranju zbog pozitivnog nalaza na morfin. Nije nijekao rezultat antidopinškog testiranja koji
je pokazao da u sebi ima količinu morfina koja je bila malo iznad dopuštenih vrijednosti, već se je branio time da ga nije uzeo namjerno, a pogotovo da ga nije uzeo s namjerom da bi poboljšao
športsku izvedbu.
Dvadesetosmogodišnji Novozelanđanin tvrdio je da je jeo bezglutensko pecivo sa sjemenkama maka i da je to dovelo do toga da njegovo tijelo metabolizira makove sjemenke u morfin. Nakon što je
saslušala znanstvene dokaze, komisija se složila s tim tumačenjem te obustavila O'Gradyjevu suspenziju. U svojem priopćenju komisija je obznanila da: 'Osim ovih dokaza nije bilo drugih
vjerodostojnih objašnjenja', naglasivši da triatlonac nije mogao znati da će bezglutenski kruh sa sjemenkama maka u tijelu proizvesti morfin.
Iako je O'Gradyju ukinuta suspenzija, nije mu vraćen naslov kojeg je osvojio na natjecanju u Taurangai. U objašnjenju komisije je naglašeno da tako propisuju pravila čak i kada se ustvrdi da
športaš nije kriv. O'Grady je istaknuo kako je zbog tog pozitivnog testa propustio nekolicinu velikih natjecanja, nazivajući to iskustvo ponižavajućim. 'Bila je to previsoka cijena zbog nekoliko
kriški kruha. Samo se nadam da je moj slučaj podigao svijest kod drugih športaša u Novom Zelandu,' izjavio je O'Grady.
'Unusual' triathlon case in sports law
Triathlete Graham O’Grady recently tested positive to the prohibited substance (morphine) at the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman (New Zeland Championship, which he won) in January and he has been
fully cleared of any wrong. He was a mere 0.1 ug/ml above the international rules for drugs in sport. Following routine testing at the event,
O’Grady recorded morphine at 1.4ug/ml against a WADA threshold of 1.2ug/ml and a combined uncertainty standard of 0.1ug/ml at the WADA threshold.
Although he did not challenge the positive test, he did rely on the 'no fault' defence under the Sports Anti-Doping Rules (i.e. that
he could not have reasonably anticipated that by consuming gluten-free poppy seed bread prior to the competition would
result in a morphine breach).
The case saw evidence tabled showing that poppy seeds are a potential source of morphine once metabolised in the body. After hearing scientific evidence that poppy seeds are a potential, if not
certain, source of morphine, the Tribunal held that the source of the positive test was the consumption of the poppy seed bread and there was no other credible explanation.
New Zealand Sports Tribunal accepted evidence that:
1) it was the poppy seeds in the bread he ate that caused his elevated morphine levels and cleared him of any wrong;
2) the breach was so minor it was clearly not perfomance enhancing.
Accordingly, the provisional suspension order lapsed and no period of ineligibility was imposed on O’Grady. This being so the Tribunal still had to make an order to
disqualify O’Grady’s half ironman results due to the automatic disqualification rule under the Rules for any anti-doping violation regardless of
whether or not an athlete is found to have no fault for the violation.
This decision is somewhat unusual but again highlights the severe penalties under the Rules for anti-doping violations..
OR: 'Hasn't this guy been cleared? Hasn't the tribunal found this accidental breach would not have given him an unfair advantage? It is the equivalent of finding someone
not guilty in a court of law but still sending them to jail.Some might argue that athletes must ensure they know what they can and can't consume before and event.
But these people are not chemical experts.'
Graham O'Grady says he'll try to win his title back at next year's Tauranga half-ironman...
What said Triathlon NZ president about the process?
Media Release from the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand
Decision of the Sports Tribunal of the New Zealand
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