Disgraced ex-Bok Chiliboy Ralepelle has indicated that his appeal on his eight-year ban for substance abuse is based on irregularities during the testing process and evidence tampering.
Ralepelle is once again fighting for his career after returning a positive test in January 2019 and subsequently copping an eight-year suspension. But the 33-year-old has spoken out about the conduct of South African Institute for Drug-free Sport which included a number of laws not being followed purportedly to save costs.
According to a report on Sport24, Ralepelle has compiled and handed in a 16-page appeal document in which he claims not even knowing the substance [Zeranol] found in his system existed before his urine test came back positive.
He also indicated the doping control officer (DCO) who took his sample made multiple errors that could have materially influenced the positive test. Ralepelle alleges he was not read his rights before he was tested and says the disciplinary committee that found guilty told him the DCO did not have informed him of his rights before testing because ‘of his prior testing history’.
Other allegations leveled against the DCO, the testing process and the subsequent verdict, include:
- The DCO lied in their testimony during the hearing as to how the sample collection process unfolded and the irregularities therein.
- The DCO did not inform him of his rights prior to the testing – which his lawyers argue invalidated doping control forms the player signed.
- The tribunal found Ralepelle need not have been told of such rights because “of his prior testing history”.
- He provided a partial sample (less than 30ml) that was not recorded as such and that because he had not submitted such a sample before, he did not have the wherewithal to question the process.
- He had never been trained or educated with regards to partial samples and the regulations state he should take direction from the DCO with regards to such matters.
- There were many instances where the samples were unaccounted for and that chain of custody rules (according to the International Standards for Testing and Investigation) were not met.
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