The Sports Tribunal has suspended Sean Winters, a member of the New Zealand Powerlifting Federation, for two years for the presence of Octodrine and its metabolite Heptaminol, which are specified substances prohibited in competition. Mr Winters was provisionally suspended without opposition on 16 September 2020. He admitted the violation but requested that his ‘B’ sample be tested. The Tribunal agreed with the proposal, and imposed a suspension of two years backdated to commence from 19 July 2020 (the date of the test).

On 18 December 2020, the parties filed a joint memorandum on sanction that suggested a period of ineligibility of two years be imposed, backdated to the date of the test for Mr Winters’ timely admission. The memorandum stated that Drug Free Sport New Zealand did not seek to establish intention. The Tribunal agreed with the proposal, and imposed a suspension of two years backdated to commence from 19 July 2020 (the date of the test).

• This media release was published by the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand (STNZ) on 21 December 2020. Click here for the original, and click here for the Full Decision.