FORMER WORLD CHAMPION Brian Magee has been hit with a six-month ban after he failed a drugs test.
The Antrim boxer tested positive after he took a supplement containing two banned substances in the run-up to his WBA Super Middleweight title fight against Mikkel Kessler.
Magee went into the December bout as the the regular WBA champion but lost his title when he was knocked out in the third round, and then failed the in-competition anti-doping test that followed.
Under normal circumstances athletes are handed a two-year ban for their first doping offence but UK Anti-Doping found that Magee did not intend to enhance his performance, and that the levels were consistent with a contaminated product.
In his evidence, Magee said that he took the supplement during his training as he was suffering from fatigue following a heavy cold.
“To counteract this, the Athlete began drinking coffee and Red Bull; however, the consumption of both caused the Athlete stomach discomfort.
“Whilst at a gym in Belfast, the Athlete purchased the Supplement to replace the coffee and Red Bull. He used the Supplement in the course of his training as he prepared for the bout in December 2012. He did not seek any advice regarding the use of the Supplement.”
The product contained the banned substances oxilofrine (methylsynephrine) and beta-methylphenethylamine, neither of which were listed in the ingredients.
In their written decision, UKAD said: “UK Anti-Doping is comfortably satisfied that the Athlete’s explanation, and therefore the absence of intent to enhance his performance, is corroborated by the evidence provided by his manager (and the fact that the Supplement was contaminated).
“It is also corroborated by the fact that both Prohibited Substances were found in the Athlete’s Sample at very low levels, consistent with the levels that would be expected in relation to the consumption of a contaminated product.”
Magee’s ban, pursuant to ADR article 10.4, began on 30 January and expires on 29 July. The decision may be appealed by Magee, the British Boxing Board of Control or the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Magee, who competed for Ireland at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is the third Irish boxer to land an anti-doping ban in the last two years.
Former European youth silver medallist Gary Sweeney was given a nine-month ban after he tested positive for a banned substances while his brother and coach Martin Sweeney was given a 27-month ban.
Irish national champion Sean Turner was given a one-year ban last month after he failed to give his whereabouts by the required deadline three times in the space of 18 months.
Brian Magee hit with 6-month ban for doping violation
FORMER WORLD CHAMPION Brian Magee has been hit with a six-month ban after he failed a drugs test.
The Antrim boxer tested positive after he took a supplement containing two banned substances in the run-up to his WBA Super Middleweight title fight against Mikkel Kessler.
Magee went into the December bout as the the regular WBA champion but lost his title when he was knocked out in the third round, and then failed the in-competition anti-doping test that followed.
Under normal circumstances athletes are handed a two-year ban for their first doping offence but UK Anti-Doping found that Magee did not intend to enhance his performance, and that the levels were consistent with a contaminated product.
His reduced suspension, announced by UKAD today, expires on 29 July.
In his evidence, Magee said that he took the supplement during his training as he was suffering from fatigue following a heavy cold.
“To counteract this, the Athlete began drinking coffee and Red Bull; however, the consumption of both caused the Athlete stomach discomfort.
“Whilst at a gym in Belfast, the Athlete purchased the Supplement to replace the coffee and Red Bull. He used the Supplement in the course of his training as he prepared for the bout in December 2012. He did not seek any advice regarding the use of the Supplement.”
The product contained the banned substances oxilofrine (methylsynephrine) and beta-methylphenethylamine, neither of which were listed in the ingredients.
In their written decision, UKAD said: “UK Anti-Doping is comfortably satisfied that the Athlete’s explanation, and therefore the absence of intent to enhance his performance, is corroborated by the evidence provided by his manager (and the fact that the Supplement was contaminated).
“It is also corroborated by the fact that both Prohibited Substances were found in the Athlete’s Sample at very low levels, consistent with the levels that would be expected in relation to the consumption of a contaminated product.”
Magee’s ban, pursuant to ADR article 10.4, began on 30 January and expires on 29 July. The decision may be appealed by Magee, the British Boxing Board of Control or the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Magee, who competed for Ireland at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is the third Irish boxer to land an anti-doping ban in the last two years.
Former European youth silver medallist Gary Sweeney was given a nine-month ban after he tested positive for a banned substances while his brother and coach Martin Sweeney was given a 27-month ban.
Irish national champion Sean Turner was given a one-year ban last month after he failed to give his whereabouts by the required deadline three times in the space of 18 months.
Read UK Anti-Doping’s issued decision in full here >
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anti-doping Boxing Brian Magee Mikkel Kessler UK Anti-Doping