Scottish grassroots player cops lengthy ban for avoiding drugs test

A Scottish grassroots player has been banned for four years following an anti-doping violation.

Borders scrum-half Sean Goodfellow, who also played for Jed-Forest, Hawick and South, was accused of “evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection” on August 2, 2018. He has been banned until January 2023.

The UK Anti-Doping ruling on Goodfellow read: “A doping control officer from UKAD called at the home of the respondent at around 06:30 for the purpose of carrying out sample collection (taking a sample of the respondent’s urine in controlled conditions in order that it be later analysed in laboratory conditions to identify the presence of any prohibited substance(s).

“The respondent was present but declined to take part in sample collection on the stated basis that he was not registered with the SRU to play rugby in season 2019/2020 and that he had to get to his work and had insufficient time to take part in sample collection.

“Later checking with the SRU identified that, in fact, the respondent was registered at the SRU as a player with his club in Scotland, that there was no break in his registration status and that his registration rendered him subject to the ADR, as described above.

“This included being bound to submit, including on August 2, 2018, amongst other requirements, to out of competition, sample collection as and when required to do so by UKAD.”

UKAD’s chief executive, Nicole Sapstead stated in the ruling: “It is the responsibility of all athletes to comply with sample collection regulations. Failure to do so may result in the same sanction as a missed test.

“The period of ineligibility shall apply from the date of sample collection (January 2, 2019) until midnight on January 1, 2023.”

The Scotsman have reported that Goodfellow was jailed for four-and-a-half years in July 2010 as a 19-year-old.

He admitted causing death by dangerous driving in an April 2009 crash between Kelso and Jedburgh in which current Scotland star Stuart Hogg was a passenger in his car and resulted in the death of his teenage friend Richard Wilkinson.

Another 19-year-old in another car was also jailed after the pair admitted to racing at 90mph.

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