Two Université Laval football players test positive for steroids

OTTAWA (CCES) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport announced that two Université Laval football players have received sanctions for the use of performance enhancing substances. On February 7, at Laval’s PEPS complex, the Centre for Ethics in Sport conducted 33 doping control tests on Laval football players during a morning training session. A second year linebacker, Michaël Abraham had his urine sample return an adverse analytical finding for the presence of 19-norandrosterone. Abraham waived his right to a hearing and acknowledged the commission of an anti-doping rule violation. He received a sanction of a two-year period of ineligibility.

On March 6, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport conducted further doping control tests on 25 Laval football players during a spring training camp in Orlando, Florida. Steeve Vachon, a first year offensive line player, had his urine sample return an adverse analytical finding for the presence of methandienone. Vachon waived his right to a hearing and received a sanction of a two-year period of ineligibility.
Since March 31, 2010, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport has conducted more than 500 doping control tests on CIS football players. A total of 14 anti-doping rule violations have been asserted with sanctions ranging from one year to four years for admitting to the use of performance enhancing substances, refusing testing, trafficking and presence in a sample for banned substances such as tamoxifen, testosterone, stanozolol, winstrol, methyl-1-testosterone, clomiphene, 19-norandrosterone, methandienone, including the first finding of hGH in a sample in North America.
“Typically we see less than one percent of our domestic doping control tests, and the more than 200,000 tests conducted worldwide, result in a violation,” said Paul Melia, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. “We are very concerned that in the sport of football we are seeing almost three percent of those tested continuing to use performance enhancing substances. We look forward to the recommendations coming out of the Task Force on the Use of Performance Enhancing Substances in Tackle Football.”
In the past, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport has tested between 150 and 250 student-athletes annually as part of the 2800 anti-doping tests allocated to Canada’s domestic testing program. The increase in tests in this past year was made possible by Sport Canada supplementary funding and the Canadian Football League who assisted with the funding of 80 tests conducted on their prospect players.
“We are pleased that in the past year CCES has increased the volume of testing of university athletes,” said Marg McGregor, Chief Executive Officer, CIS. “Although extremely disappointed with today’s announcement, we are cautiously encouraged that during the high-risk out-of-competition period since the November 2010 Vanier Cup, 285 players were tested, and less than one percent have tested positive, which is within the world average. We are also encouraged that the entire football teams from the University of Calgary and Wilfrid Laurier University tested clean during that time, along with all the CIS players who have been identified as CFL prospects and were tested as part of the CFL drug education and prevention program. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to promote fair play and drug-free sport, however our renewed efforts and collaboration with CCES and the CFL in this regard appear to be making a difference.”
The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is an independent, national, not-for profit organization. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.
– CCES –