The Sports Tribunal has suspended Harrisyn Jones a member of the Carisbrook Dunedin Cricket Club for a period of two years for his online purchase from the NZ Clenbuterol website in February 2015. This is the Tribunal’s seventh case relating to Medsafe’s investigation into NZ Clenbuterol, an online steroid supplier, which passed the transaction data to Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) to investigate those athletes that had purchased prohibited drugs online and were subject to sport anti-doping rules.

Mr Jones was provisionally suspended without opposition on 24 May 2018. On 20 July 2018 he admitted the online purchase of clenbuterol, so the Tribunal was only required to determine the penalty to be imposed. It was accepted on the evidence that Mr Jones’ violation was not intentional.

On 3 August 2018 counsel filed a joint memorandum proposing a sanction consistent with previous Medsafe cases, that is, a period of two years ineligibility backdated by 10 months for timely admission and substantial delay. On 6 August 2018 the Tribunal advised counsel that it wished to reconsider the length of time backdated for delay as the standard was set in December 2017 when the first batch of Medsafe cases were decided.

At its AGM on 14 August the Tribunal considered the further passage of time should be reflected in any sanction and invited the parties to review their position. The Tribunal suggested that the total period of backdating for delay and co-operation should be increased to 12 months. The parties were offered the opportunity to have a hearing on the issue if required. The Tribunal noted that 12 months is the maximum period that can occur as the rules state that the athlete must serve at least one-half of the period of ineligibility going forward.

On 21 August 2018 the parties filed a second joint memorandum proposing a sanction as suggested. The Tribunal considered the material relating to Mr Jones, and given the circumstances were similar to the other NZ Clenbuterol Medsafe cases determined, the Tribunal imposed a two year suspension backdated by 12 months to commence from 24 May 2017.

• This media release was published by the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand (STNZ) on 28 August 2018. Click here for the original, and click here for the full decision.