UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) today confirmed that a rugby union player, Thomas Price, has been suspended from all sport for four years following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. Price, who played for Whitehall RFC, refused to provide a urine sample to UKAD Doping Control Officers after being selected for post-match doping control. The match took place on 14 November 2015 between Whitehall RFC and Keysham RFC. A disciplinary panel, convened by the Rugby Football Union, found that Price refused to provide a sample of urine and he has been banned from all sport for four years, from 20 November 2015 to midnight on 20 December 2019.

UKAD Chief Executive, Nicole Sapstead, said: “In the case of Thomas Price, the panel found that this was not a case of could not provide a sample, but rather that he would not provide a sample. Refusing to provide a sample is a severe violation of the anti-doping rules. Intelligence-led testing programmes remain integral to our work and refusing to provide a sample will result in serious consequences. The message to athletes is clear – when anti-doping authorities request a sample, they must co-operate.”

The full written decision can be found under the current rule violations.

• This media release was originally published by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) on its internet site on 18 March 2016. To access the original, please click here.