UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) today confirmed that two rowers have been suspended from all sport for two years following Anti-Doping Rule Violations. Sybren Hoogland (21) and Timothy Grant (22), who both competed for Oxford Brookes University Boat Club, tested positive for stimulants following in-competition tests at the Ghent International Regatta in Belgium on 9 May 2015.

Hoogland tested positive for benzoylcgonine (a metabolite of cocaine) and is banned from all sport for two years from 9 May 2015 to midnight 8 May 2017. Grant, who previously rowed for the Great Britain U23 squad, tested positive for modafinil and is banned from all sport for two years from 4 June 2015 to midnight on 3 June 2017.

Modafinil is a central nervous stimulant, which can only be legally obtained if a prescription is issued by a health care practitioner. It is known for its ability to aid an increase in concentration and focus, and possibly reduce the feeling of exertion when exercising. In addition, modafinil has been found to shorten the amount of recovery needed after sleep deprivation.

Nicole Sapstead, UKAD’s Chief Executive said:“Hoogland and Grant are young athletes who clearly made the wrong choices in their personal lives. The consequences of those choices is that they have damaged their sporting careers and their reputations. Both athletes have been through extensive anti-doping education but their decisions to ignore the advice they were given has resulted in two year bans from all sport. Athletes must follow the principal of ‘Strict Liability’ which means they are solely responsible for any banned substance which is found in their system, whether or not there is an intention to cheat. This can be challenging for an athlete and they have to be aware of the danger to their career at all times.”

The full written decision regarding Hoagland can be found here. The full written decision regarding Grant can be found here. Both decisions can be found under the current rule violations.

• This media release was originally published on the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) internet site on 23 November 2015. To access the original, please click here.