Australian Cyclist Receives Two-year Sanction For Use Of Human Growth Hormone And An Anabolic Steroi

Australian cyclist receives two-year sanction for use of human growth hormone and an anabolic steroid

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) today announced that Australian cyclist Mark Roland has accepted a two-year suspension for the use of prohibited substances.

Mr Roland, who competed professionally with the 2003 Giant Asia Racing Team and won a criterium of the 2003 Southbank Grand-Prix Cycling Classic on 7 December 2003, was found by ASADA to have used human growth hormone (hGH) on 27 August and 5 December 2003 and the anabolic steroid Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on 27 August and 5 December 2003 and 16 November 2004.

In making the announcement, ASADA Chairman Richard Ings said the case was significant as there was no positive test to base the sanction on, but instead relied on evidence obtained by ASADA investigators.

The offences were also committed during the eight years statute of limitations period mandated in the World Anti-Doping Agency Code.

"This sanction clearly illustrates that athletes do not need to return a positive test to be found to have violated anti-doping rules," Mr Ings said.

"In this case ASADA investigators, working in partnership with other government agencies, identified and prosecuted a serious doping violation that could not have been detected through normal testing procedures."

Mr Roland will forfeit all competition results from his first use of human growth hormone on 27 August 2003 until he last competed on 25 April 2008. He will be eligible to return to sporting competition at midnight on 24 April 2010.

ASADA media contact
Simon Tidy
+61 (0)2 6222 4208
+61 (0)418 450 113


SOURCE: ASADA