Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges the decision of Rugby Australia’s Anti-Doping Judicial Panel to impose a two-year ban on athlete Aidan Leeming for the presence and use of a prohibited substance. Mr Leeming returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an out-of-competition doping control test on 2 May 2019.

His sample was analysed at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, part of the National Measurement Institute, which detected the presence of the Prohibited Substance Higenamine. It was determined that on and/or before 2 May 2019 the athlete used a Prohibited Substance, namely Higenamine.

Rugby Australia’s Anti-Doping Judicial Panel imposed a two-year ban on Mr Leeming commencing on 17 June 2019. Mr Leeming is ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 17 June 2021. He is also not permitted to compete in a non-signatory professional league, or event organised by a non-signatory International or National level event organisation.

Additional information on the prohibited substance

Higenamine is classified as an S3 Beta-2 Agonist (these types of substances allow lungs to take in more oxygen) and is prohibited in and out-of-competition. However, as a cardiotonic, higenamine can increase heart rate, putting an athlete at an increased risk of arrhythmias and even death.

• This media release was published by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) on 28 September 2020. Click here for the original.