Scottish Rugby Union player Eales banned for eight years
Press Release
4th December 2020,
Scottish Rugby Union player Darren Eales has been banned from all sport for a period of eight years following a second Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for the presence of a banned substance in his Sample.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected an In-competition urine Sample from Mr Eales on 23 February 2019 after a match between his team, Preston Lodge RFC and Dumfries Saints RFC. Analysis of Mr Eales’ A Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for stanozolol.
Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid that is derived from testosterone. The drug is used to enhance performance and is prohibited from sport at all times under the 2019 WADA Prohibited List.
Speaking on the case, UKAD’s Director of Operations, Pat Myhill commented: “The decision to ban Mr Eales from sport for eight years shows the serious consequences of repeated attempts to cheat. The World Anti-Doping Code provides longer bans for second offences and this is a clear message that repeated cheating will not be tolerated.”
The case was referred by UKAD to the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) in July 2019. After affording Mr Eales numerous extensions, the NADP eventually imposed an eight-year ban in November 2020 after determining the case on the papers. Mr Eales did not provide any evidence to verify his claim that he had used a contaminated supplement. Taking into consideration his provisional suspension, Mr Eales’ ban started on 23 February 2019 and will expire at midnight on 22 February 2027.
UKAD charged Mr Eales with breaching World Rugby Regulation 21.2.1 – "Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in a Player’s Sample”.
UK Anti-Doping
UK Anti-Doping is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code through implementation and management of the UK’s National Anti-Doping Policy.
UK Anti-Doping’s functions include an education and information programme, athlete testing across more than 40 Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports, intelligence management and exclusive results management authority for the determination of anti-doping rule violations.
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UK Anti-Doping’s 2018-2022 Strategy
UK Anti-Doping launched its four-year Strategic Plan in 2018 focussed on protecting the right to enjoy doping-free sport through four key strategic objectives. These objectives are:
• Catching those who cheat
• Providing information and education
• Working with sports
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The National Anti-Doping Panel
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