Biogen’s Testoforte product has been found to contain banned substances, according to a statement released by the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport on their digital platform.
According to Saids, an independent analysis of the supplement revealed the presence of anabolic steroids that were not listed on the product label.
Saids CEO Khalid Galant said the substances (4-Androstene-3, 17-dione, 5α-Androstanedione and 5β-Androstanedione) fell under category S1 of the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods in Sport.
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He explained that if an athlete was to test positive after using a product in such an instance, the onus would be on them to prove they were not aware of the banned substances contain therein.
“Within the context of doping cases, it is called contamination when an athlete can conclusively prove that the supplement he ‘innocently’ consumed contained substances that were not listed on the packaging.
“Many athletes claim inadvertent use through contamination when they test positive, however, the burden of proof falls on them to prove through independent sources that the product was indeed contaminated.”
Galant added that athletes had to perform their due diligence and be convinced the product was safe to use.
“Recently a tribunal did not hand down a sanction to EFC fighter Demarte Pena because he could prove due diligence to their comfortable satisfaction.”
He said a similar ruling was handed down in the Bjorn Basson/Chilliboy Rallepelle case where they tested positive for the stimulant methylhexenamine through a sports recovery drink.
