News 5 Nov 2018

West denied of lifting provisional anti-doping suspension

Australian's B sample allegedly returns with positive reading.

Source: Supplied.

Queenslander Anthony West has had his request denied in lifting the provisional anti-doping suspension handed to him in September after his B sample allegedly returned with a positive reading for a prohibited substance.

The B sample, which was analysed at West’s request at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Cologne
on 23 October, confirmed the analysis of the A sample according to the FIM.

The FIM provisionally suspended West following the receipt of a report from a urine sample taken at the Misano stop of the World Supersport Championship (WorldSSP), indicating an adverse analytical finding of a non-specified substance under Section 6 (stimulants) of the 2018 FIM Prohibited List.

The FIM suggests West has not yet explained as to how the prohibited substance entered his body, although the Australian hit back with a statement via social media at the weekend maintaining his innocence.

“I have tried to tell them, but they don’t listen and [they] don’t read my emails or my lawyer’s emails,” the statement read. “After the day they gave me the news in Portugal, my manger tried calling them – they said everything has to be submitted by writing in a email. So I emailed them everyday for a week with no response.

“I’m coming public with all this because FIM don’t want to work with me to fix their mistakes in private. They have already cost me a large amount of money. I’ve lost sponsors and lost my world championship ride for 2019 and I’ve had no chance to fight it or explain myself.”

It’s understood West is barred from participating in any motorcycling competition or activity until further notice, pending a final decision on the merits of the case. West also served an 18-month suspension in 2013 after a nutritional supplement he consumed contained a prohibited substance.

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