Kiwi player suspended for doping

NEWS: Southland club player Shanan Kapene has received a two-year suspension from all participation in rugby after a New Zealand Rugby Judicial Committee found him guilty of anti-doping violations.

Kapene, 31, admitted to buying and using the banned substances; Testosterone Enanthate, Clenbuterol and Tamoxifen in 2014, which he said was to aid weight loss and gain muscle for aesthetic reasons, not to enhance his sports performance.

Kapene said he did not know that the substances were prohibited.

At the time, Kapene was a registered club rugby player in Southland.

The anti-doping charges were brought against Kapene by Drug-Free Sports New Zealand (DFSNZ) following an investigation initiated by MedSafe into the operation of the website NZ Clenbuterol. He admitted the allegations and agreed to a provisional suspension when confronted with the allegations in August this year.

The Judicial Committee agreed to backdate the start point of the suspension by 12 months from the date of the provisional suspension due to Kapene’s prompt admissions and the delays in the proceedings.

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