UBC kicker sanctioned for drugs

University of British Columbia football player Billy Pavlopoulos was given a two-year sanction by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport on Tuesday for an anti-doping rule violation.

The player’s urine sample was collected during out-ofcompetition doping control last January and revealed the presence of the steroid stanozolol, the CCES said in a release. Pavlopoulos, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound kicker, exercised his right to a hearing and an arbitrator imposed the sanction effective through Jan. 9, 2014.

“We strongly support the Canadian Anti-Doping Program and the decisive action taken today,” said UBC associate athletics director Theresa Hanson. “Our role is to educate our athletes on the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and to help them make informed and sound decisions. At the end of the day, it is up to the athlete to make the right choice. Unfortunately … the athlete made a poor decision.”

After learning of the positive test in January, the team said Pavlopoulos was suspended indefinitely.

“We are disappointed by the actions of this individual player. His conduct is unacceptable in our football program,” said head coach Shawn Olson.