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Athletics athlete suspended for the presence of cannabis

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Press Release

2 October 2017

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that Tacuma Anderson-Richards, an athletics athlete, received a sanction of two months for an anti-doping rule violation. The athlete’s urine sample, collected during in-competition doping control on July 8, 2017, revealed the presence of cannabis.

The presence of cannabis, classified as a “specified substance” on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List, is considered an adverse analytical finding when the urinary concentration exceeds 150 ng/ml. Under the rules of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), an athlete facing a first violation involving a “specified substance” can seek to have the sanction reduced to a reprimand. Based on CCES’ assessment of the athlete's degree of fault, the CCES proposed a sanction period of two months ineligibility.

In response to the CCES’ notification of the adverse analytical finding, Mr. Anderson-Richards waived his right to a hearing, admitted the anti-doping rule violation in a timely fashion and accepted the proposed sanction of two months ineligibility from sport (which terminated on September 7, 2017). The athlete, who resides in Pickering, Ontario, was ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), including training with teammates, during the sanction period.

In compliance with rule 7.10 of the CADP, a copy of the CCES’ reasoned decision can be found at www.cces.ca/sanctionreg.

The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization with a responsibility to administer the CADP. Under the CADP rules, the CCES announces publicly every anti-doping rule violation. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.

 

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