Rugby Union Athlete Sanctioned
Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges that Rugby Australia has imposed a three-year ban on athlete Tom Piroddi for the Presence of a metabolite of a Prohibited Substance and the use of a Prohibited Substance.
Mr Piroddi returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an Out-of-Competition doping control test on 15 March 2022.
His sample was analysed at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, part of the National Measurement Institute, which detected the presence of Di-hydroxy LGD-4033 (metabolite of LGD-4033 (Ligandrol)).
It was also determined that on and/or before 15 March 2022, Mr Piroddi used a Prohibited Substance, namely LGD-4033 (Ligandrol).
Rugby Australia imposed a three-year ban on Mr Piroddi commencing on 15 March 2022.
Mr Piroddi will be eligible to return to competition on 15 March 2025.
Additional information on the Prohibited Substance
The substance LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) is listed under Class S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents) of the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List 2022 and is prohibited at all times.
LGD-4033 is promoted as a selective non-steroidal anabolic agent. It is claimed to be a substance that induces muscle (and bone) growth without the side effects associated with steroid use.
However, information on the safety of LGD-4033 is scarce due to a lack of medium and long-term clinical trials - hence the medium and long-term health impacts are unknown.
It should be noted that a number of Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) have associated health-risks, particularly for the heart and liver.
Sport Integrity Australia is committed to protecting the right of clean athletes to fair competition.
If you are aware of any suspicious doping activity, you can:
- Report it anonymously via the Sport Integrity Australia website or:
- Call: 1300 027 232
Sport Integrity Australia recommends athletes check substances and medications before taking them and to follow our advice on sports supplements.
The Sport Integrity app provides a resource to check substances and medications. As well as information on how to find batch-tested supplements and see if a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is needed.
The app is available for free download on the App Store and Google Play.
