Amateur cyclist who says he's never raced gets four-year doping ban

A Nottingham man who says he has never raced a bike competitively has been banned from all sport for four years after the UK Border Force intercepted nandrolone and testosterone that he had ordered online from India.

Ian Edmonds, aged 41, also refused to provide a sample when he was visited by a doping control officer from UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) on 1 May this year, three weeks after the package containing 20 capsules of testosterone and 100 nandrolone tablets had been intercepted.

According to the decision published on the UKAD website, Edmonds, a member of Mapperley Cycling Club, was also a member of British Cycling (BCF) and therefore subject to anti-doping rules.

In an interview with UKAD on 6 June, he admitted Attempted Use of a Prohibited Substance and Refusing to Submit to Sample Collection.

He said that he had ordered the steroids for his personal use and that he had refused to provide a sample when the UKAD staff member visited because he was unaware that he had an obligation to comply with anti-doping rules because he had never competed.

But UKAD said that “his ignorance to that fact is not sufficient explanation that would justify a reduction [of the sanction] based on his level of Fault.”

It added; “As a registered member of the BCF, Mr Edmonds was under a duty to comply with his personal responsibilities to acquaint himself with the ADR and their specific requirements including what constitutes an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

“He was also under a requirement to carry out research on an products he planned to ingest to ensure compliance with the ADR and to make himself available for testing when requested to do so by UKAD.”

Banning Edmonds until 1 August 2020, it added: “He failed to meet those requirements.”

Pat Myhill, director of operations at UKAD, said: “The ordering of prohibited substances online by those subject to the anti-doping rules continues to be a major concern for UKAD.

“Whether they are obtained in an attempt to improve sporting performance or for aesthetic purposes, a significant threat is posed to both clean sport and public health.

“Ordering prohibited substances via the internet may result in a ban from all sport and, in some cases, constitute a criminal offence.

“The Edmonds case is an excellent example of how we work alongside law enforcement partners to deter and detect doping in the UK by targeting the supply of illicit substances,” he added.

“I would encourage anyone who has information about the purchase or supply of performance and image enhancing drugs to contact us in confidence via 08000 322332 or via reportdoping.com.”

Edmonds is banned from all sport from 1 August 2016 until midnight on 1 August 2020.