Cycling South Africa reports that Brandon Stewart, a former ABSA Cape Epic African jersey rider and SA Cross Country champion, returned an adverse analytical finding in an out-of-competition test conducted on 7 July 2013. The analytical report confirmed the presence of the Anabolic Agent, Testosterone, in his urine sample.
Stewart tested positive for the banned substance on 7 July 2013 during an out-of-competition test. The athlete had applied for an exemption to use Testosterone. The exemption, known as a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), was denied by the SAIDS TUE Commission.
Photo: Zoon Cronje/Nikon
Khalid Galant, SAIDS CEO, explained that subsequently Stewart appealed against his Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) denial to the SAIDS Appeal Board. The appeal was not successful. The Appeal Board supported the TUE Commission’s decision that a compelling medical condition did not exist to warrant the use of the banned steroid, testosterone.
Following the hearing, which was conducted by an Independent Tribunal on 24 July 2014, Mr. Stewart was found guilty and has received a two-year ban from all sport effective from 27 March 2014 to 26 March 2016. Mr. Stewart has the right to appeal the decision.
Galant explains further: “Stewart was afforded due process as outlined by our anti-doping code with respect to being presented an opportunity to file an appeal against a TUE denial before he was charged with a doping offence.”
Source: Cycling South Africa/SAIDS
