Sports scientist, Dr Ross Tucker, provides insight into the nature of Aphiwe Dyantyi’s B-sample returning an adverse finding.
Mistakes are always possible & there *IS* such a thing as inadvertent doping. But when a pro athlete makes a mistake of taking a supplement that is contaminated without showing that he’s taken every possible precaution, it will be treated as if doping – the athlete is responsible
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 30, 2019
So, *IF* he can show that he took all precautions, had some kind of promise or reassurance that was misplaced by a governing body, and had not just no intention to dope but actively tried to avoid it, he may find leniency (remember Ralepele & Basson after Wales?). If he can’t,
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 30, 2019
…then this can and should be treated as if intentional, because he’s either gone “rogue” and taken a supplement with no quality assurance, or he’s doped deliberately.
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 30, 2019
…means people will think the supplement works better and buy more! So it might actually be a good business decision! More likely, though, is contamination, because they source the ingredients from places where BOTH are used, and there’s no quality control.
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 30, 2019
To show inadvertent doping, player needs to show that he took a supplement that was contaminated with banned substances. But that’s only part of it. He also has to show that he took reasonable precautions to avoid inadvertent doping. That is, they can’t have been “reckless” (5/)
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 30, 2019
This is especially true because the supplement industry is notoriously unregulated, especially here in SA, and so a player who takes a supplement WITHOUT doing the necessary checks is playing doping Russian Roulette with their careers. Best case is stupid negligence! (10/)
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) August 30, 2019
