British Hammer thrower banned for four years

British Hammer Thrower Mark Dry has been suspended from all sport for a period of four years following an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) - Tampering with any part of Doping Control.

Following an attempted test on Mr Dry at his home address on 15 October 2018, Mr Dry provided a false account to UKAD as to why he was not at the address at the time. 

At the first hearing (October 2019) before the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP), Mr Dry conceded he had lied to UKAD to try to avoid a first Filing Failure. Mr Dry is registered on UKAD’s Domestic Testing Pool, therefore one Filing Failure does not result in any sanction, but subsequent Filing Failures can lead to a ban from sport. 

At this first hearing, the independent Tribunal of the NADP dismissed the charge against Mr Dry. UKAD successfully appealed this decision to the NADP’s independent Appeal Tribunal.

The NADP’s Appeal Tribunal concluded that the false account given by Mr Dry was conduct intended to ‘subvert the Doping Control process’ and was therefore Tampering under the rules.  

UK Anti-Doping Deputy Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Stacey Cross said: “This case is a very clear example that athletes must conduct themselves with honesty during the anti-doping process, and what is at risk if they don’t.

“It is UKAD’s role to uphold the Anti-Doping Rules, which apply to all athletes, and there are very strict sanctions for anyone who deliberately interferes with or tries to obstruct the anti-doping process.”

The period of Ineligibility commenced following the provisional suspension on 8 May 2019 and will end on 25 September 2023 inclusive.