15-month sporting ban for North East AFL player Alex Overs

The Australian Football League Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision to impose a 15-month ban on Alex Overs for the presence and use of a prohibited substance was today acknowledged by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).

Mr Overs tested positive for Oxycodone and its metabolite Oxymorphone in a sample collected in-competition on 16 September 2012 at the NEAFL grand final game between Queanbeyan Tigers and the Sydney Swans.

Mr Over’s 15-month ban, which was backdated to the date of his voluntary provisional suspension, means he is ineligible to participate, as an athlete or support person, in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Agency compliant anti-doping policy until 20 March 2014.

Oxycodone is categorised as a narcotic under S7 of the 2012 World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List and is prohibited in-competition.

Oxycodone is a narcotic analgesic generally used for pain relief. It can pose a range of threats to an athlete’s health including drug dependence and therefore has the potential of being abused. Adverse reactions to oxycodone can include fatigue, nausea, vomiting and hypotension, and in high doses may include respiratory depression, circulatory failure and coma.

Any athletes unaware of their responsibilities are encouraged to seek additional information online at ASADA’s website www.asada.gov.au

Friday, 06 September 2013