The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) announced today that the SAIDS Appeal Tribunal dismissed the appeal that was lodged by cyclist Brandon Stewart for the use of the banned substance Testosterone.
Brandon Stewart (C). Photo: Gallo Images
Stewart was informed in October 2013 by Cycling South Africa that he had tested positive for the banned substance Testosterone during an out-of-competition test.
Khalid Galant, SAIDS CEO explains: “The cyclist claimed that he had a legitimate medical condition that warranted the use of Testosterone. He had previously applied for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the use of Testosterone.
“The SAIDS TUE Commission denied the application based on the international criteria that the use of the substance was elective and not medically essential.”
“The national anti-doping rules afforded the cyclist the opportunity to first lodge an appeal against the denial of his TUE, before a formal doping charge would be filed,” he added.
The appeal was heard on January 28, 2014, and the decision handed down on March 3, 2014. The Appeal Tribunal upheld the decision of the TUE Commission to deny the therapeutic use of Testosterone.
SAIDS confirms that the provisional suspension as communicated to Brandon Stewart in correspondence sent to him on October 31, 2013, remains in place.
Galant concludes: “The athlete reserves the right to appeal the decision made by the Appeal Tribunal to the Court of Arbitration (CAS) in Switzerland and has up to March 25, 2014 to do so. Should Stewart forgo the last avenue for appeal, he will be charged with a doping offense and a hearing date will be set.”
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