All White learns harsh lesson from too many puffs
Young All Whites midfielder Clayton Lewis had no idea too many puffs on his asthma inhaler could lead to a ban from football after being suspended for a month for exactly that.
Yesterday, the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand confirmed a sample taken after a national league match on February 18 showed the Auckland City FC player had an excessive amount of Salbutamol, the medical name for Ventolin, in his system.
Salbutamol is a specified substance on the Prohibited List, but when administered by inhaler is only prohibited above a specified concentration.
Capped three times for the All Whites, Lewis was provisionally suspended on July 8 and had to be replaced in the squad for the Oceania Nations Cup, which the team went on to win.
While not opposing that provisional ban, he asked to be heard in relation to the appropriate sanction.
After that was confirmed as one month, the 19-year-old said it was a feeling of relief.
‘‘We were fortunate enough to go to the Tribunal and get the lowest outcome with a no fault as well. I’m pretty pleased it is all over, but lesson learned definitely.
‘‘[I’ve learned] I should be managing my asthma a lot better. I took my Ventolin because I wanted to breathe, which is pretty normal, but I didn’t actually know you could have too much.’’
The standard suspension for unintentional over-use of Salbutamol under the Sports Anti-Doping (SADR) is two years.
However, the Tribunal considered a reduction of that period after deeming there was no significant fault or negligence on Lewis’ part.
The Tribunal’s decision said it was a ‘‘genuine therapeutic use’’ of the drug to alleviate ‘‘asthmatic symptoms which had been exacerbated by the cold night air during the game’’.
They also factored in Lewis’ age, his clean record from two previous tests and his ’’co-operation and contrition’’, including voluntarily withdrawing from the All Whites squad.
While acknowledging it was an unintentional breach, the Tribunal said athletes still had ‘‘strict obligations under SADR to exercise utmost caution and understand what constitutes a violation’’. Rules 2015
Drug Free Sport New Zealand supported the level of penalty handed down. ‘‘Mr Lewis is an impressive young man with tremendous ability and a strong set of values,’’ said DFSNZ chief executive Graeme Steel.
Lewis is free to return to competition from August 8 and said he was looking forward to getting back on the field for the New Zealand under-20 side and the All Whites.
Meanwhile, the Sport Tribunal confirmed the same ban for the same offence had been given to former representative softballer Craig Wallace.
The ex-Black Sox player was provisionally suspended on June 29 for a positive test returned on February 21, which the decision said was ‘‘due to his incorrect technique in using his inhaler and consequently taking more puffs’’.