Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges the decision of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) to impose a three-month ban on athlete James Maloney for the presence of a prohibited substance and its metabolite.
Mr Maloney returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an in-competition doping control test on 27 February 2022 in Carcassonne (Aude, France), while playing in the Elite 1 rugby championship.
His sample was analysed at the French anti-doping laboratory, which detected the presence of cocaine and its metabolite Benzoylecognine.
The AFLD imposed a three-month ban on Mr Maloney commencing on 23 June 2022, consistent with article L. 232-23 of the sports code.
Mr Maloney was ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 18 August 2022.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PROHIBITED SUBSTANCE
Cocaine is classed as an S6 stimulant on the Prohibited List and is prohibited in-competition. It is also classed as a Substance of Abuse under the Prohibited List.
Generally, cocaine produces an intense ‘rush’ with users feeling a sense of euphoria, alertness, arousal, and increased confidence. Many users find the drug addictive and may face a number of short and long term health problems including an irregular heartbeat, chest pain, kidney failure, and seizures or stroke.
