Rugby union player Junior Laloifi received a three-month ban for the presence of Cocaine and its metabolite Benzoylecgonine.
Mr Laloifi, who was playing for Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship, returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an in-competition doping control test on 6 March 2022.
Mr Laloifi’s sample was analysed and the presence of Cocaine and its metabolite Benzoylecgonine was detected. The UK Anti-Doping Agency had Results Management Authority for this matter.
As of 1 January 2021, if an athlete tests positive to a substance of abuse (such as marijuana or cocaine), then the athlete’s ban from sport may be reduced to three months if the athlete is able to prove that the substance was used out-of-competition and that its use was unrelated to sporting performance. The UK National Anti-Doping Panel was satisfied that this was established and imposed a three-month ban on Mr Laloifi, commencing on 31 May 2022.
Mr Laloifi was ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 31 August 2022.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE
Cocaine is classed as an S6 stimulant on the Prohibited List and is prohibited in-competition. It is also classed as a Substance of Abuse under the Prohibited List.
Generally, cocaine produces an intense ‘rush’ with users feeling a sense of alertness, arousal, and increased confidence. Many users find the drug addictive and may face a number of short- and long-term health problems including an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, kidney failure, and seizures or stroke.
