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Barrie, Ont.-based cyclist slapped with sanction in violation of anti-doping rules

Call it a cautionary tale for any young athlete. According to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Stephen Welsh, a under-23 rider from Barrie, Ont., with the NCCH High Performance Team, has been slapped with a three-year sanction for violating anti-doping rules.

Call it a cautionary tale for any young athlete.

According to the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Stephen Welsh, an under-23 rider from Barrie, Ont., has been slapped with a three-year sanction for violating anti-doping rules. The incident involved possession of banned substances—clenbuterol, testosterone and erythropoietin, specifically—and happened in Tucson, Ariz.

Before the CCES made the disclosure, Welsh had met with agents of the organization in co-operation with an ongoing investigation, at which time he openly admitted to the violation. As a result, and having also agreed to forego any hearing or investigation, he was entitled under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program rule 10.6.3 to request a sanction reduction. The CCES, meanwhile, believing that Welsh had not used performance-enhancing drugs—including those in his possession that he purchased—jointly agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency to a reduced sanction for the Canadian cyclist.

That sanction makes him ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport that’s a signatory to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, including training with teammates, and will remain in effect for a period that ends on July 2, 2018.

In commenting on the matter, Welsh’s regret was unmistakable. “It is with great sadness that I comment today on my doping sanction,” he said. “I am ashamed of my actions and will forever regret my poor choice. It is important for me to note that my family, coach, close friends, team and teammates had absolutely no knowledge of my decision to order banned substances. I fully co-operated with CCES because I wanted to be honest and to explain my experiences with doping in the sport of cycling.

“I take pride in the fact that I have never used a performance-enhancing substances. I hope that my experience can serve to inform and educate other young athletes regarding the risks and dangers of doping and to inspire them to not succumb to the desire to win at any cost.”

In compliance with CADP regulations, a copy of the CCES decison can be found at www.ces.ca/sanctionreq.