The Australian Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) caught East Pert Royals midfielder Dean Cadwallader for using a banned substance in May 2010. However, the West Australian Football League Tribunal made its final decision last Thursday. The football player will be banned from the sports up to June 2012. Cadwallader appealed the case hoping that the league will at least reduce the sanction.

The midfielder was caught using nandrolone, a type of anabolic steroid that helps develop muscles. This substance is included in the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency. ASADA and WAFL follow the anti-doping code of WADA. The confirmatory test using the B sample also returned a positive result. Cadwallader already issued an apology to his team, fans and family when news about the positive steroid test came out publicly.

Chairman Paul Heaney, head of WAFL tribunal, told the media that Cadwallader is not entitled to a reduction of penalty because of his negligence. The young football player told the league that he took the drug because he wants to increase his weight. However, he did not make any inquiries as to whether the substance is banned or not. “It is clearly not a case where it can be said that player Cadwallader has established that he bears no significant fault or negligence for his violation,” Heaney said.

Cadwallader’s dream of making it to the Australian Football League (AFL) was shattered because of the two year suspension. His intention of gaining weight through supplements caused the demise of his promising career. According to Heaney, Cadwallader admitted that he took the drug to become eligible to the AFL draft.

Another official of the WAFL said that the league strictly followed the anti-doping policy in hearing the case of the East Perth Royals midfielder. According to WAFL’s OIC Operations Manager Steve Hargrave, the decision of the league should serve as a reminder to football players that using inappropriate drugs in sport will cause them great harm. “The WAFL will continue to enhance upon its drug education program delivered to clubs each year. We are in close consultation with key partners such as the AFL, DSR, Sports Medicine Australia and ASADA in our ongoing development of the WAFL drug education program,” Hargrave added.

Performance enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids or human growth hormones has no place in football. Players who will be caught using these banned substances will meet harsh punishment from their sports organizations. “Like all sporting organisations we can’t emphasize enough that each individual, regardless of their chosen sport or status, must take control and full responsibility for their own actions in this area,” said Hargrave.

The InmyCommunity website also reported that the career of Swan Districts defender Travis Casserly is also at stake. Anti-doping officials found a banned substance in his system after the grand final game against Claremont. However, this substance is present in a cold medication.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS