The national anti-doping agency of the UK announced this week that one of their track and field athletes was given a 2-year suspension due to an unexplained positive test for steroid clenbuterol. They initially imposed a provisional suspension last February but during the investigation, the hurdler can’t explain why and how he got the banned substance in his system. Several possible reasons were given to the anti-doping agency but none of them could justify that the athlete should not be held accountable for the positive result.

Hurdler Callum Priestley, who just won the 60 meters hurdles at the world indoor trails in February, was handed 2-year suspension from the sport and could face a lifetime ban from the Olympics based on the rules of the British Olympic Association. The sanction has a retro-active effect and will end on February 2012.

Preistley was tested while he was in South Africa earlier this year. The steroid test was part of the comprehensive anti-doping policy of the UK anti-doping agency. “One of the important aspects of the Callum Priestley case is that he was tested off season, out-of-competition, and indeed outside of the UK,” UK Anti-Doping chief executive Andy Parkinson told the Sky Sports.

Parkinson stressed that athletes will be tested wherever they are and regardless whether they are competing or not. “This is in keeping with UK Anti-Doping’s focus on targeted, out-of-competition testing across all sports in their off season,” he said. The Anti-Doping Chief also said that the case of Priestley should act as a warning to other athletes. “There is no hiding place from their responsibilities, no matter where they are, or whether they are competing,” he added.

The National Anti-Doping Panel decided to give Preistley the 2-year suspension because of his failure to justify the presence of Clenbuterol in his body. Clenbuterol is included in the banned list of substances of most sports organization because of its performance enhancing effects. It is known to increase aerobic capacity of athletes and increase oxygen transportation. Most bodybuilders use Clenbuterol or Clen to achieve better muscle mass and this substance also help burn fats in the body.

Preistley suggested that it may be due to a supplement that he was taking. Tests showed that there was no trace of Clenbuterol on the supplement which he claimed contaminated with the substance. The anti-doping panel also reported that the hurdler argued that it could be due to the meat he ate while he was in South Africa.

“The athlete now believes that the most likely source was meat from animals or poultry which had been treated with steroids, but again it has not proved possible to produce any scientific or other evidence to substantiate the theory that any meat which he ate in South Africa was so contaminated,” the panel said.

Though Preistley can still appeal the decision, it will be more likely that the suspension will prevail.

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