Steele banned for three years after failing drugs test

MARR utility- back Dougie Steele has been banned from all sport for a period of three years following a first Anti- Doping Rule Violation ( ADRV) for the presence of two prohibited substances in his urine sample.

The suspension comes after UK Anti- Doping ( UKAD) collected an out- of- competition urine sample from Steele at a Marr training session on 27th January 2022, which returned an Adverse Analytical Finding ( AAF) for a metabolite of dehydrochlormethyltestosterone ( DHCMT) and metabolites of oxandrolone.

DHCMT and oxandrolone are both anabolic agents, listed under S1.1 of the World Anti- Doping Agency ( WADA) 2022 Prohibited List.

Both of these non- specified prohibited substances are banned at all times.

Steele was given a provisional suspension from sport on 12th May, just a month after playing full- back in the Marr side which defeated Curr ie Chief t ains in the 2021- 22 Premiership play- off Grand Final.

He was charged with the commission of ADRVs for the presence and use of prohibited substances on 5th August, and admitted the ADRVs and accepted the asserted period of ineligibility four days later.

In accordance with ADR Article 10.8.1, he was able to reduce the four- year asserted period of ineligibility to three- years.

The ban commenced on 12th May 2022 and will expire at midnight on 11th May 2025.

“We operate a zero- tolerance policy for any prohibited substances, which have no place in our sport,” said Scottish Rugby’s chief medical officer Dr James Robson MBE.

“In many cases they have a detrimental effect on the health of the individual and as such we welcome today’s ban which can act as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to take them.

“We run a comprehensive education programme and will not hesit ate to impl ement our intelligence- led approach to target those who we suspect may be using prohibited substances at any level of the game.”

UKAD Director of Operations, Pat Myhill, said: “Players who use anabolic agents to improve their performance, or who do not follow the principles of strict liability in clean sport, are letting the side down.

“Anabolic agents such as these are prohibited in sport at all times, and can have serious health risks for the athletes taking them.”