Greaves now to serve 4-years for Anti-Doping Rule Violation

Jan 31, 2017 Sports, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....ping-rule-violation/

WADA successfully appeals against Caribbean RADO RMC decision to CAS

By Franklin Wilson
Leading cyclist Alanzo Greaves has been slapped with a further three-year ban which now adds up to the maximum four years by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) for his Anti Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) in November 2015.
The WADA ruling was handed down on January 5th last with the Caribbean Regional Anti Doping Agency (Caribbean RADO) in a press release issued yesterday stating that it has accepted the ruling of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on the ADRV case involving Greaves following WADA’s challenge of the Caribbean RADO initial ruling.
It is apt to note that the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) had turned over responsibility to the Caribbean RADO with regards to disciplinary proceedings.
Greaves was one of 10 riders who were tested by the Caribbean RADO which, through its Results Management Committee had suspended him for one year after his urine sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) that is a positive test for the prohibited substance, Testosterone.
Further analysis of the urine sample by the WADA accredited laboratory reported a testosterone/epitesterone (T/E) ratio greater than 25, thus confirming the substance testosterone or its metabolites was exogenously derived, that is not naturally produced by the body.
Bringing the issue to the attention of the media and Guyana yesterday was President of the Guyana Olympic Association K. A Juman Yassin who hosted a press conference at the associations headquarters High Street, Georgetown.
Sharing the head table with President Yassin were Caribbean RADO Officials Dr Karen Pilgrim who is a Director and Charles Corbin, one of the Doping Control Officers.

Yassin in remarks informed that WADA’s appeal to the CAS which had appointed an Attorney from England was successful thus the extension in the ban to the maximum, four years.
”The fact that he has served one year that would now be deducted so his further period of suspension would be effective from the 5th of January 2017 until the 4th of January 2020. I note that there was a cycle race and Mr. Greaves had won the race and thus I felt that it was only right and proper we should bring this to the attention of the fraternity.”
Yassin also informed that communication was sent to Greaves but couldn’t confirm if he had indeed received same.
Dr. Pilgrim gave a brief background to the entire issue reminding that the test on Greaves was done on November 1st, 2015 which was random. The tested riders were selected randomly based on their performances in the first four stages of the five stage contest.
The GOA was later informed on November 23rd, 2015 that Greaves test showed up an AAF and he was subsequently notified in writing on November 28th, 2015. Greaves was then informed by RMC in April 2016.
Corbin in his remarks on the issue said that the process allowed Greaves at each stage to intervene and he did admit that he had ingested the substance.
”In his indication he got this information one day before the actual cycle race in terms of the written representation by his lawyer. He did not during the state of appeal, he did not enter an appearance or challenge the appeal even though he was aware that WADA was going to attempt to make an appeal in respect of the sentence that was meted out by the panel.”
Corbin further informed that in accordance with the rules that Greaves was given 21-days since the WADA award was handed down by the Arbitrator to put in a challenge.
”At no stage in any part of the process other than the original admittance did he challenge the proceedings.”
Yassin noted that he felt the penalty was too light noting that Greaves’ defence was no defence.
”His defence was that he was with the club when he left to go to the washroom somebody put it in his drink. He did not name the person, he called no witnesses to substantiate that fact and the adjudicator in the appeal found that the onus of proof was upon him {Greaves} and it would not be right and proper for an athlete in these circumstances to say look, it was put in my drink without calling supporting witness or witnesses.”
Whilst the WADA has now been definitive in its stance on the matter, the issue of costs would have to be dealt with, Yassin confirmed. The Caribbean RADO was a respondent in the matter together with Greaves. Yassin told the media that adjudicator awarded costs against the Caribbean RADO which would have to cover 75% and against Greaves who would have to pay 25%.
Yassin is calling on young athletes to try and walk the straight path when it comes to issue of doping.
Due to the urgency of bringing this matter to the attention of the public the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) was not informed Dr. Pilgrim said but the federation would have been kept in the loop before as well as Greaves’ club, Roraima Bikers.
The CAS also ruled that any medals, points and prizes that Greaves would have obtained during the periods of ineligibility are forfeited.

Alanzo Greaves