Akl league player cops drug ban

Domestic rugby league player Siliga Kepaoa has been banned for 18 months following two positive tests for the prohibited substance higenamine.

Kepaoa, a prop for the Auckland-based Akarana Falcons team, won’t feature this season after The Sports Tribunal of New Zealand imposed an 18-month ban backdated to September 19, 2017.

It is the second sanction handed down within a few weeks for the same substance. Basketballer Gareth Dawson, who last year played for the Canterbury Rams, was hit with a four-year ban for his second anti-doping breach.

Kepaoa’s first positive test was after a Falcons training session on September 19 last year. The second was after the final of the national rugby league premiership, less than one month later.

Because Kepaoa was not notified of the first positive result before his second test, the two violations are treated as one in accordance with sports antidoping rules.

Kepaoa admitted using the supplement Oxyshred, which advertises itself as a ‘‘super potent thermogenic fat burner’’.

Drug Free Sport New Zealand chief executive Nick Paterson said despite Kepaoa receiving anti- doping education around the risks of using supplements, the 29-year old didn’t take the threat of ingesting a prohibited substance seriously.

‘‘In Mr Kepaoa’s case, the prohibited substance, higenamine, was actually listed on the label of ingredients on the back of the supplement container.

‘‘As a top-level amateur athlete who has had education about the risk of taking supplements, it’s disappointing that once again, a talented sportsman is going to be on the sidelines.

‘‘These sanctions are preventable with a bit of research and checks through the right channels,’’ he said.