Rugby Union player Ryan Olowofela serves three-month ban for Anti-Doping Rule Violation
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today confirmed that Rugby Union player Ryan Olowofela received a three-month ban from all sport following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for the presence of a Prohibited Substance in his urine Sample. At the time of this announcement, the ban has been served and the player is free to resume participation in sport.
On 26 March 2023, UKAD collected an In-Competition urine Sample from Mr Olowofela at a game between Nottingham RFC and Bedford Blues RFC. Analysis of the Sample returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for cocaine and its Metabolite, benzoylecgonine.
Cocaine is listed under section S6A of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2023 Prohibited List as a stimulant. It is a non-Specified Substance that is prohibited In-Competition only. The WADA 2023 Prohibited List also identifies cocaine as a ‘Substance of Abuse’.
The UK Anti-Doping Rules (ADR), which implement the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code for sports in the UK, set out specific rules on how ADRVs relating to Substances of Abuse should be managed. Shorter bans of three months are available for such substances when found In-Competition if their ingestion takes place Out-of-Competition and in a context unrelated to sport performance.
On 28 April 2023, UKAD notified Mr Olowofela that he may have committed ADRVs in violation of the ADR. Mr Olowofela was also provisionally suspended from this date.
On 5 May 2023, Mr Olowofela admitted that he had taken cocaine and stated that he had ingested it recreationally on Thursday 23 March 2023. UKAD instructed a scientific expert to examine whether the concentration of cocaine and its Metabolite benzoylecgonine detected in Mr Olowofela’s Sample was consistent with the explanation he provided. The scientific expert’s opinion was that this explanation was not scientifically plausible.
UKAD charged Mr Olowofela on 15 June 2023 with the commission of two ADRVs under ADR Article 2.1 (presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample) and Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method).
Mr Olowofela responded on 6 July 2023 denying the charges. The player provided a revised account, stating that his original recollection was incorrect, and he had in fact ingested cocaine on Friday 24 March 2023. The player provided evidence to support this account, including witness statements and bank records. The scientific expert examined the player’s revised account and concluded that his explanation was consistent with Out-of-Competition ingestion. As a result, the charge under Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance or Method) was not pursued.
Mr Olowofela accepted the charge of Article 2.1 and the asserted period of Ineligibility of three months. Mr Olowofela has been afforded credit for the time he has spent provisionally suspended (since 28 April 2023). His period of Ineligibility was lifted on 28 September 2023, on the basis that the player had already served the maximum three-month period of Ineligibility applicable to his case. Mr Olowofela is free to resume participation in sport.
Speaking on the case, UKAD Director of Operations, Hamish Coffey said:
“Athletes need to respect the Anti-Doping Rules. It’s important to remember that cocaine and other ‘recreational drugs’ are prohibited in sport. These substances are harmful to athlete health, and they impact careers and reputations.”
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