The Tribunal wrote to National Sports Organisations on 28 July 2010 that it would be taking a new approach to the sanctions it imposes for athletes who commit first time violations with cannabis.
The letter informed National Sports Organisations that the the starting point for a first anti-doping violation involving cannabis will now be four months' ineligibility (suspension).
The previous starting point was between one and two months' ineligibility.
National Sports Organisations were requested to advise athletes, officials, coaches and other members in their organisation of this new approach.
Read letter informing National Sports Organisations of the Tribunal's new approach to cannabis sanctions.
Please note that this sanction will only apply to athletes who have satisfied the requirements of Rule 14.4 of the Sports Anti-Doping Rules.
The effect of Rule 14.4 is to allow for the elimination or reduction of the period of ineligibility (which would otherwise be two years) if the athlete can establish how the cannabis entered his or her body and can establish that the cannabis was not intended to enhance the athlete's performance. To justify any such elimination or reduction, the athlete must produce corroborating evidence in addition to his or her own word which establishes to the comfortable satisfaction of the Tribunal hearing panel the absence of an intent to enhance sports performance.
If the athlete cannot satisfy the requirements of Rule 14.4, then the prescribed sanction is two years' ineligibility (unless the athlete can satisfy one of the other rules allowing for a reduction eg: such as establishing no fault or negligence or no significant fault or negligence - see rules 14.5.1 and 14.5.2 of the Sports Anti-Doping Rules).
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