http://www.athletics.org.nz/Article.aspx?ID=5952
28/08/2009 2:55:02 p.m.
New Zealand Olympic Marathon runner Liza Hunter Galvan faces a two year ban from sport following a Sports Tribunal of New Zealand ruling earlier today. United States based Hunter Galvan tested positive for the use of erythropoietin (EPO), a prohibited performance enhancing substance, in an out-of-competition test conducted at her home on 23 March this year.
“It is abhorrent to think that a New Zealand athlete would choose this path, but it would be naïve to think that some of our athletes are not at times exposed to the temptation of performance enhancing substances,” said Athletics New Zealand chief executive officer Scott Newman. “For whatever reason, some athletes will be tempted and we are extremely disappointed with Liza. This certainly serves as a reminder that cheats are highly likely to be caught.”
“Liza has not only let herself and her sport down, she has let down those who have supported her throughout her career, including some of New Zealand’s athletics icons”, says Newman.
Athletics New Zealand applauds the efforts of Drug Free Sport New Zealand and the IAAF in their continued action and stance on the use of performance enhancing substances in sport.
Meanwhile, Athletics New Zealand hopes to learn next month whether Nick Willis will be upgraded to an Olympic silver medal following Olympic 1500m Champion Rashid Ramzi’s positive drugs test from the Beijing Olympic Games.
Link to Sport Tribunal decision
http://www.sportstribunal.org.nz/decisions-09/index.html
Drug Free Sport New Zealand v Liza Hunter-Galvan
(ST 07/09) Provsional Suspension Decision 29 May 2009; Decision 28 August 2009
Overview:
Anti-doping - erythropoietin (EPO) - athlete admitted violation and that deliberately took EPO - Tribunal rejected her submission that suspension should be backdated to the date of sample collection as she had made a “prompt” admission of the violation - Tribunal did not find her admission to be prompt in circumstances - she did not admit violation until her B sample was analysed and she had obtained packaging of samples - while she was entitled to take those steps, Tribunal considered an athlete who has knowingly taken EPO does not "promptly" admit the violation by requesting that her B sample be analysed - comments on confidentiality and privacy obligations in Sports Anti-Doping Rules which prevent Tribunal and parties to anti-doping proceedings publicly disclosing information before Tribunal has made and publicly issued a final decision - mandatory sanction of 2 years ineligibility imposed (commencing from date of provisional suspension 29 May 2009)
The nerve of her to get the suspension backdated.