The IRB have confirmed USA wing James Paterson has been banned for four months after testing positive for a banned painkiller at the Rugby World Cup.
The Highlanders wing will be able to return on February 13, 2012 after his suspension was backdated to October 13, 2011.
Paterson tested positive for the painkiller Oxycodone - a substance which is on the WADA Prohibited List.
The IRB said that Paterson injured his shoulder earlier in the tournament and took the painkiller to play in his team's last pool match against Italy on September 27.
"This was a very unfortunate case in the sense that it could have been avoided by referencing the WADA Prohibited List which is provided to all Unions and was proactively made available to all participating teams and players prior to and during RWC 2011," said IRB Anti-Doping Manager Tim Ricketts.
"The main message to come from this error is that all medical personnel and Players must be diligent in checking all medications whether it be over the counter or prescription medicine to ensure it does not contain any prohibited substances. Under the strict liability principle a player is responsible for any prohibited substance found in their system."
Comments
Bones7 says...
alanatleeds - I agree with Ramage. It's not like he's got juiced up to get an advantage, he's taken a pretty strong opium derivative to play through a bad injury. His performance will be in no way improved by taking something that strong, if anything he'll be pretty slow and groggy, it's literally just a case of getting him onto the pitch. I feel the ban is fair, because ultimately he has taken a prohibited substance, but a longer ban for essentially soldiering on to represent your country in a world cup I don't think would be justified.
Posted 12:41 23rd January 2012
Ramage says...
A pain killer. Come on yes he must take responsibility but in the end the medical team attached to any International team is responsible for what is given to be taken. I would not think any player would know what drugs are legal or not. This is not a case of a guy taking perfomance enhancing drugs but one of taking, by mistake, a pain killer that is banned. What is not clear from the report is whether he took these himself which if he did he is stupid or whether they were prescribed from the USA medical team in which case they were negligent. I believe the ban was relevant and no doubt the player will be more careful in future.
Posted 04:18 23rd January 2012
alanatleeds says...
Admitted use of a banned substance that allowed him to play despite injury, given a 4 month ban - what a joke! In any professional sport the coaches and player know the rules, and if they don't they shouldn't be professionals. This is cheating and calls for a 2 year ban like any other sport such as cycling. What sort of deterent is this to young player who want to get an edge by taking banned products?
Posted 18:33 22nd January 2012