Joe Fournier, the nightclub owner turned boxer, has been sanctioned with an 18-month ban after testing positive for sibutramine, which an anti-doping agency concluded was due to taking the supplement ‘Perfect Shape’. The sanction was issued by one of Belgium’s two anti-doping agencies, NADO Flanders, following an in-competition test on 25 June at his cruiserweight bout against Mustapha Stini. UKAD confirmed that Fourner has been banned from 6 December 2016 until 5 June 2018.

‘The product was provided to him by his trainer Dino Spencer as part of a particular diet’, read a translation of the NADO Flanders decision, published by UKAD (PDF below). ‘The plastic box, which contains the capsules, doesn’t mention the presence of the prohibited substance, while it does list other substances’.

The NADO Flanders Disciplinary Counsel dismissed Fournier’s claim for a finding of no fault or negligence, which under Article 10.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code, eliminates any period of ineligibility. ‘Every athlete is responsible for his own entourage (meaning a trainer or other support personnel)’, reads the decision. ‘On the information wrapper of the particular container […] it is clearly mentioned: “The statement on this label has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration” while, in the introductory phase of the list, as brought forth by the athlete […] it is mentioned: “This list includes a small fraction of the potential products with hidden ingredients” […] it is clear that this list is not comprehensive.’

However, the Disciplinary Counsel accepted a plea for a finding of no significant fault or negligence on the part of the athlete, as the product was recommended by his coach and wasn’t labelled with specific information concerning its real contents. It is not yet known if Fournier plans to appeal the sanction.