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Valloni / News  / RUGBY PLAYER SUSPENDED
13 May 2026

RUGBY PLAYER SUSPENDED

Swiss Sport Integrity (SSI) has handed down, on 1 May 2026, a 14-month suspension on a National League A rugby player, due to stanozolol contamination, for the presence, possession, and use of the prohibited substance, and has also fined him.

Following an out-of-competition doping control, analysis of the sample from National League A rugby player, Thomas Fischer, revealed the persistent presence of metabolites of the prohibited substance, stanozolol. The athlete was informed of the positive result by SSI.

During the procedure, the athlete stated that he did not know the origin of the prohibited substance in his sample and suspected contamination of a dietary supplement. He then had two products analysed, in coordination with SSI, by the Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analysis, which detected the substance in one of the analysed products.

Due to this laboratory analysis and various pieces of evidence concerning the purchase of the dietary supplement containing the prohibited substance, the athlete was able to prove satisfactorily that the product had been contaminated prior to purchase. SSI, however, determined that the athlete had not exercised due care when using the supplement and that he was at fault, even if the violation was unintentional.

SSI then issued a results management decision imposing a 14-month suspension for the presence, possession, and use of the prohibited substance stanozolol.

Even if contamination can be proven, athletes bear strict responsibility under anti-doping rules and must, therefore, exercise great vigilance when purchasing dietary supplements. The suspension is effective from October 15, 2025, and applies to all sports and all positions within sports worldwide. Furthermore, the athlete must pay a fine of 150 Sw. Frs. and cover the costs of the doping control and analysis, totalling 1,722 Sw. Frs..

SSI has reminded all athletes that the risk of doping related to dietary supplements can never be completely ruled out, as these supplements can be contaminated with prohibited substances. Athletes should, therefore, only use dietary supplements after an expert assessment of their needs and an individual analysis of the benefits and risks.

We act for clients in anti-doping cases in Switzerland, and further information is available from either Dr Lucien Valloni or Kim Gamboni by emailing them at valloni@valloni.ch or at gamboni@valloni.ch respectively.

 

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