Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Scottish based NZ rugby player banned after buying substance online to help 'asthma'

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Jed-Forest player Blake Roff has been banned for two years after being found guilty of possession of Clenbuterol.

ADVERTISEMENT

Clenbuterol is a steroid-like chemical that was initially developed to treat asthma in horses which works by relaxing the airways. It is used by both bodybuilders and those wanting to enhance their athletic ability.

Roff bought Clenbuterol online, which is a banned substance under World Anti-Doping Regulations except with a valid therapeutic use exemption, in December 2014 while still living and playing rugby in his native New Zealand.

He was identified after Drug Free Sport New Zealand investigated an online supplier trading under ‘Clenbuterol NZ’ in 2017 and accessed its customer database, resulting in proceedings being brought against several athletes and subsequent bans enforced.

Drug Free Sport New Zealand issued the two-year sanction, which is effective worldwide and across all sports. As a registered player in Scotland Roff will be unavailable to Jed-Forest until May 2020.

Roff admitted possession and use of the agent and claimed that he purchased it in the hope it would assist with his asthma condition.

He registered to play in Scotland in August 2016.

A Scottish Rugby spokesperson said: “Scottish Rugby continues to operate a zero-tolerance approach to all use of prohibited substances. We are proactively using intelligence led testing and working with other international agencies to find those taking banned substances and remove them from the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

“There is a comprehensive education programme in place and it is the player’s own responsibility to be aware of which substances are prohibited and ensure they compete clean.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

USA vs England | Men's International | Full Match Replay

France v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Lions Share | Episode 4

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

U
UP 40 minutes ago
Nobody runs the show like Beauden - Why the All Blacks need Barrett now, and at Rugby World Cup 2027

Gregg-a! Great piece! I have followed you for as long as you have been writing. You are no doubt in my mind the best of the NZ sports rugby writers! I appreciate all the comments, I have read them all and have great respect for them. That’s the great thing about different perspectives, you don’t have to agree with them but you can respect them. I moved away from NZ over 23 years ago. Though I live in a different country, I will always and forever be a Kiwi and a staunch die hard supporter of the All Blacks. I wake up early to watch every game without fail.


This is the first time I am making a comment on this platform. I just want to express my appreciation for Beauden! I have been a Beauden fan from the beginning of his career. Whether he makes it to the end of his contract in 2027, all the many scenarios that have been painted in this article and all the many comments relating to Richie, D-Mac and Love, whatever happens, happens, but, I am taking the opportunity to appreciate this great talent, great athlete, great rugby player and great man. I am bias, I hope he makes it to the 2027 world cup but who knows. What I do know is Beauden Barrett has been an outstanding All Black, he has represented the jersey with the mana, respect and reverence that comes with the black jersey. He is humble and doesn’t seek glory for himself but for the team, so for however long he plays, I will be watching, appreciating him as one of the greats of All Blacks rugby and I’ll be watching every other game the All Blacks play with Beauden in the team or no longer. I Love the ALL BLACKS NO MATTER WHAT!!

84 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Selected Lions star dramatically rules himself out in 'self-less' last-minute call Selected Lions star dramatically rules himself out in 'self-less' last