POSTED: Tuesday January 27th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sprinter Andrew Muhlhan banned for two years following Australian Federal Court decision
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority today welcomed the judgment of the Australian Federal Court to uphold ASADA’s decision that professional sprinter Andrew Muhlhan had committed an anti-doping rule violation under the National Anti-Doping Scheme.
Following the judgment of the Federal Court, the Victorian Athletic League (VAL) moved to impose a two year suspension on Mr Muhlhan for the presence of anabolic steroid
Mr Muhlhan, a finalist in the 2006 Stawell Gift and a noted sprint coach, tested positive for the prohibited substances androstenedione and testosterone — both synthetic anabolic steroids — in an in-competition sample collected by ASADA at the ‘Run for the Willow’ athletics event in Daylesford, Victoria on 9 December 2006.
Mr Muhlhan successfully disputed the placement of his name on the ASADA Register of Findings in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) on the grounds that by selecting him for target testing, ASADA had not complied with the relevant International Standard.
ASADA appealed the AAT decision to the Australian Federal Court and was successful in having it overturned.
ASADA Chairman Richard Ings said that the decision was an important one, as it confirmed ASADA’s jurisdiction to target test any athlete at any time, anywhere for legitimate doping control purposes.
“This ruling now clears the way for ASADA to continue target testing athletes competing in Australia’s professional sprinting competitions for legitimate doping control purposes,” Mr Ings said.
VAL President, George Flack said the Victorian Athletic League was pleased with the decision of the Federal Court and that it proved that there is no room for doping in Australian professional sprinting.
“The fact that a competitor in one of our events thought they had to resort to doping to win is very disappointing to us,” Mr Flack said.
“But clearly there is an element that is prepared to do whatever it takes to win and this case only serves to highlight the importance of having a strong anti-doping body like ASADA on watch to detect and prosecute those involved in doping.”
Mr Muhlhan’s period of ineligibility commenced on 30 May 2007, given that he had not actively competed since that time. He will be ineligible to participate in sport as either an athlete or a coach till 30 May 2009.
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Name: Simon Tidy
Organization: Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
Email:
Phone: +61 262224208
URL: http://www.asada.gov.au
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