Tennis Anti-Doping Programme
Wheelchair tennis -
01 Mar 2006
28 February 2006. The International Tennis Federation announced today that an independent Anti-Doping Tribunal convened under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme has found that David Buck has committed a Doping Offence.
The independent Anti-Doping Tribunal has ruled that Mr. Buck, a 46 year old wheelchair tennis player from Silverado, California, USA, has committed a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a sample) in that a sample provided by Mr. Buck on 6 October 2005 at the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in San Diego, California, tested positive for cannabis. Cannabis is classified by the WADA Code and the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme as a Specified Substance. Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the Programme, the use of a Specified Substance, when there was no intention to enhance performance, carries a minimum penalty of a warning and a maximum of one (1) year’s ineligibility.
The Tribunal found that there had been no intent in this case to enhance performance by the taking of cannabis but added that this case is, “regrettably, one of deliberate commission of a doping offence,” because the player did not deny that he knew that cannabis was a Specified Substance, failed to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), and continued to participate in ITF competitions.
The Tribunal confirmed the commission of a doping offence and determined that Mr. Buck should be suspended for 3-1/2 months, commencing 10 October 2005 and ending 24 January 2006, and that his results should be disqualified in the singles and doubles events at the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship 2005 with loss of ranking points and prize money of US$131.
The Tribunal’s written decision with reasons is available on the ITF website at http://www.itftennis.com/. Any party wishing to appeal the decision has three weeks to do so from receipt of the written decision. The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognised drug-testing programme that applies to all players competing at tournaments sanctioned by the ITF, ATP and WTA Tour. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Charges of breach of the programme are heard by an independent Anti Doping Tribunal. More background information on the Programme, penalties, statistics and testing procedure information can be found at www.itftennis.com/antidoping.
Media enquiries:
Communications Department
International Tennis Federation
Tel: +44 (0)20 8392 4632
Email: communications@itftennis.com
The independent Anti-Doping Tribunal has ruled that Mr. Buck, a 46 year old wheelchair tennis player from Silverado, California, USA, has committed a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a sample) in that a sample provided by Mr. Buck on 6 October 2005 at the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in San Diego, California, tested positive for cannabis. Cannabis is classified by the WADA Code and the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme as a Specified Substance. Under the World Anti-Doping Code and the Programme, the use of a Specified Substance, when there was no intention to enhance performance, carries a minimum penalty of a warning and a maximum of one (1) year’s ineligibility.
The Tribunal found that there had been no intent in this case to enhance performance by the taking of cannabis but added that this case is, “regrettably, one of deliberate commission of a doping offence,” because the player did not deny that he knew that cannabis was a Specified Substance, failed to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), and continued to participate in ITF competitions.
The Tribunal confirmed the commission of a doping offence and determined that Mr. Buck should be suspended for 3-1/2 months, commencing 10 October 2005 and ending 24 January 2006, and that his results should be disqualified in the singles and doubles events at the US Open Wheelchair Tennis Championship 2005 with loss of ranking points and prize money of US$131.
The Tribunal’s written decision with reasons is available on the ITF website at http://www.itftennis.com/. Any party wishing to appeal the decision has three weeks to do so from receipt of the written decision. The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognised drug-testing programme that applies to all players competing at tournaments sanctioned by the ITF, ATP and WTA Tour. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Charges of breach of the programme are heard by an independent Anti Doping Tribunal. More background information on the Programme, penalties, statistics and testing procedure information can be found at www.itftennis.com/antidoping.
Media enquiries:
Communications Department
International Tennis Federation
Tel: +44 (0)20 8392 4632
Email: communications@itftennis.com