Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2006
Source: New Zealand Press Association (New Zealand Wire)
Copyright: 2006 New Zealand Press Association

CANNABIS MAIN OFFENDER IN NZ ATHLETE DRUG TESTS

Steroid use in New Zealand is low, but some of our sports people like 
a toke of dope, analysis of Drug Free New Zealand's (DFNZ) testing 
regime shows.

The agency's annual report shows 15 athletes out of 1262 tested 
throughout the year to June 30, 2006, had a banned substance in their 
system, but two thirds of them were for cannabis.

DFNZ executive director Graeme Steel said was taking up a significant 
portion of its resources despite the fact it did not appear to 
enhance anyone's performance.

"Cannabis remains a singular challenge to both the testing and 
education programmes.

"While we have continued to argue that the nature of cannabis use is 
such that it should not be lumped in with performance enhancing substance use."

He said the agency was having to work with sporting associations and 
player groups to educate them about the fact cannabis could stay in 
people's systems for very long periods of time.

"Our efforts to respond to the challenge posed by the inclusion of 
cannabis on the list continue to require a very high proportion of 
our resources."

Those sports effected were softball with four positive tests, rugby 
sevens (3), touch rugby (2) and rugby league (1).

In August Tall Blacks basketballer Mark Dickel became the most recent 
and highest profile casualty of the drug testing regime.

Dickel was suspended for two matches by New Zealand team management 
after testing positive for cannabis use.

He was warned and reprimanded by the New Zealand Sports Disputes 
Tribunal before the Tall Blacks left for the world championships in 
Japan, where he was subsequently banned for an additional three 
matches by Fiba.

Four of the other five positive tests for banned substances were for 
anabolic agents in bodybuilding.

The other was a positive test for the stimulant ephedrine in the 
sport of power lifting.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine