Scottish rugby player banned for eight years for testing positive for steroids

Scottish rugby player Darren Eales has been banned from all sport for eight years after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

A Scottish rugby player has been banned for eight years for a second doping offence.

It was the Preston Lodge forward’s second doping violation.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected an in-competition urine sample from Eales on February 23 last year after a Tennent’s National League Division 2 match between Preston Lodge and Dumfries Saints. Analysis of the A sample found traces of stanozolol.

Stanozolol is an anabolic steroid that is derived from testosterone. The drug is used to enhance performance and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Eales said he had used a contaminated supplement.

His first doping violation came in 2015 when he tested positive for the anabolic steroid, boldenone, and was banned for two years

Pat Myhill, UKAD’s director of operations, said: “The decision to ban Mr Eales from sport for eight years shows the serious consequences of repeated attempts to cheat. The World Anti-Doping Code provides longer bans for second offences and this is a clear message that repeated cheating will not be tolerated.”

A statement from UKAD said: “The case was referred by UKAD to the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) in July 2019. After affording Mr Eales numerous extensions, the NADP eventually imposed an eight-year ban in November 2020 after determining the case on the papers.

“Mr Eales did not provide any evidence to verify his claim that he had used a contaminated supplement. Taking into consideration his provisional suspension, Mr Eales’ ban started on 23 February 2019 and will expire at midnight on 22 February 2027.”

Eales has the right to appeal.

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