One of the leading competitors of the 2017, New Zeeland’s Tour of Northland has just been caught doping by the Sports Tribunal of NZ.
The tour body admitted Karl Murray to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation soon after he tested positive for an anabolic agnet called clenbuterol.
The finding came right after Murray undertake a simple doping control while taking part at the Tour of Northland on March 18, 2017.
Mr Murray is bound by the Sports Anti-Doping Rules, through his long-time membership of Cycling New Zealand. Murray’s second analysis sample once again confirmed the finding of the first sample.
“Our message is very clear. The use of prohibited substances in sport will not be tolerated,” Mr Paterson, DFSNZ Chief Executive, said.
“Those who consciously choose to go against the spirit of sport are not only doing themselves a disservice, but undermining the efforts of other athletes. In this case his competitors in the Tour of Northland. We owe it to our clean athletes, the viewing public and society at large to catch these drug cheats.”
Not learning the lesson
Since this is not Murray’s first Rule Violation, he will now face a pretty serious ban from all sport. The first time when Murray committed an ADRV was in New Caledonia three years ago testing positive for nandrolone and testosterone.
“Mr Murray clearly did not learn the lessons from his first ADRV. And he now faces a significant ban from all sport. There is also the wider implication of using prohibited substances. And that’s the potential damage to his long-term health,” he says.