Weightlifter Receives Sanction
Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges that the Australian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) has imposed a three-year period of Ineligibility on athlete Samuel Thorne for the Presence, Use and Use or Attempted Use of multiple Prohibited Substances.
Mr Thorne, who was a member of the Queensland Weightlifting Association at the time, returned an Adverse Analytical Finding from an Out-of-Competition doping control test on 8 March 2023.
Mr Thorne’s sample was analysed at the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, part of the National Measurement Institute, and the presence of Drostanolone and its metabolite (2a-methyl-3a-hydroxy-5a-androstan-17- one), 4-chloro-3a-hydroxyandrost-4-en-17-one (metabolite of Clostebol) and Testosterone and its metabolites 5a-androstane-3a,17b-diol, 5b-androstane-3a,17b-diol, androsterone and etiocholanolone were detected.
It has also been established that Mr Thorne Used, or Used or Attempted to Use, the following prohibited substances:
- Use of Drostanolone and/or Clostebol on and/or before 8 March 2023.
- Use or Attempted Use of Growth Hormone from on and/or around 1 January 2022 to on and/or around 31 December 2022.
- Use or Attempted Use of Oxandrolone from on and/or around 1 July 2022 to on and/or around 11 September 2022.
- Use or Attempted Use of Chorionic gonadotrophin from on and/or around 1 February 2022 to on and/or around 31 December 2022.
- Use or Attempted Use of Gonadorelin on and/or around 1 February 2022 to on and/or around 31 December 2022.
- Use of Testosterone on and/or before 6 July 2023.
Relevantly, under the World Anti-Doping Code— International Standard — Prohibited List — 2023 (2023 Prohibited List) the substances Drostanolone, Clostebol and Testosterone are listed under Class S1.1 (Anabolic Agents — Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS)). Each of these substances are classified as Non-Specified substances and are prohibited at all times.
Additionally, under the World Anti-Doping Code — International Standard — Prohibited List — 2022 (2022 Prohibited List) the substance Growth Hormone is classified as a class 2.2.3 (Peptide hormones and their releasing factors), the substances Gonadorelin and Chorionic gonadotrophin are classified as class S2.2.1 (Peptide hormones and their releasing factors) and the substance Oxandrolone is classified as a class S1.1 (Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS)). Each of these substances are classified as Non-Specified substances and are prohibited at all times.
Under Article 10.8.1 of the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021 (ANADP) a one-year reduction in the period of Ineligibility may be applied to an athlete’s period of Ineligibility for certain Anti-Doping Rule Violations based on early admission and acceptance of sanction.
The AWF has therefore imposed a three-year period of Ineligibility on Mr Thorne commencing on 11 September 2022.
Mr Thorne is ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 11 September 2025. He is also not permitted to compete in a non-signatory professional league, or event organised by a non-signatory International or National level event organisation.
Additional information on the Prohibited Substances
Anabolic Agents such as Drostanolone, Clostebol and Testosterone pose many threats to an athlete’s health and some side effects may include an increase in blood pressure and cholesterol levels which can lead to heart disease. Liver disease and infertility can also result from the use of these agents.
In Australia, the use of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) treatment is only permitted for legitimate medical purposes and only a doctor may source these substances with permission from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – i.e. it is illegal for non-medical personnel to import these substances into Australia.
Learn more about the health effects of doping.
