Yolande de Villiers sanctioned for anti-doping rule violation

 

POSTED ON FACEBOOK TODAY.

 

To all my friends:

I would like to provide an explanation to shed light on the predicament in which I find myself.

The penalty that I have received is for not seeking the necessary approval, prior to competition, for chronic blood pressure and oedema medication that had been prescribed for an existing medical condition. This medication is not performance enhancing. To the contrary it has a negative effect on performance and is not recommended for use by healthy individuals.

...

The chronic medication was prescribed by a long-standing medical practioner,Dr D. Welgemoed, familiar with my medical history. He is aware that Adco-Retic has an overall negative effect on endurance athletes, however, the treatment selection was informed by my pre-existing medical condition. He did not consider the medication as a violation of cycling's drug list, as it has no performance enhancing effect.

The mistake that I made was that I did not familiarize myself with the process of SAIDS and was not aware of the TUE process. Therefore, I did not submit the necessary request for use during competition to SAIDS for approval.

I would like to make it clear that:

* I always declared the use of Adco-Retic during drug tests, assuming that the declaration would be sufficient

* I never avoided or missed a drug test

* I have never being implicated in any drug violation- including blood testing

* I immediately applied for the TUE after being made aware that it is required for the medication that I had been prescribed

* I was open, honest and co-operative during the whole investigative process

* I have abstained from taking part in events when I was aware that the TUE process had been violated

* I now have sought medical advice and treatment in an attempt comply to SAIDS and WADA rules

Yours sincerely

Yolande de Villiers

 

Maar wag so bietjie.....how can a PRO athlete make such a statement....even us fat and overweight laymen know the process.....

Maar wag so bietjie.....how can a PRO athlete make such a statement....even us fat and overweight laymen know the process.....

I agree with you.

I do feel a little sympathy for her (like for all dopers, but that's another discussion), but ignorance is not a defense.

To be honest, I can't really believe that she and the doctor doesn't know about anti-doping rules, why non-performing medications are also on the list and that they don't know what a TUE is and the related process. Can they both really be that naive?

Unfortunately she will have to take this one on the chin and hopefully all the other athletes learn from this. But did she take it on the chin? Did she lose any prize money? Did anything really happen?

Maar wag so bietjie.....how can a PRO athlete make such a statement....even us fat and overweight laymen know the process.....

Agreed. (See it can happen )

I also dont like the fact that she isnt being straight forward about the substance "motives". She is talking about it not being performance enhancing, but I thought it was banned for being a masking agent to substances that DO enhance performance?

Agreed. (See it can happen )

 

I also dont think the fact that she isnt being straight forward about the substance "motives". She is talking about it not being performance enhancing, but I thought it was banned for being a masking agent to substances that DO enhance performance?

Fair enough

But say she does have the medical condition (which I am sure can be proven or disproven), are we saying it was just an amazing lucky coincidence that she now had an excuse to use a masking agent while doping up on other stuff?

Fair enough

 

But say she does have the medical condition (which I am sure can be proven or disproven), are we saying it was just an amazing lucky coincidence that she now had an excuse to use a masking agent while doping up on other stuff?

Nooo, we are not saying that

I am saying that she must not confuse (or pretend not to know) why that substance is considered naughty.

She carried on racing regardless and the only consequence is that she'll never ride Epic again. 

Really unfortunate that she didn't know about them TUEs. 

Maar wag so bietjie.....how can a PRO athlete make such a statement....even us fat and overweight laymen know the process.....

Pro athletes clearly don't spend enough time discussing debating studying the rules and doping on the bikehub 

Nooo, we are not saying that

 

I am saying that she must not confuse (or pretend not to know) why that substance is considered naughty.

I really do get the impression that a few of the pro's that got caught were ignorant about TUE's and maybe not deliberately cheating.

I guess they are pro riders because they can go fast on a bike not because they are intellectual giants.

But like andydude said, ignorance is not a defence, how many more are going to be caught for not getting their TUE's right before they sharpen up on that?

I really do get the impression that a few of the pro's that got caught were ignorant about TUE's and maybe not deliberately cheating.

 

I guess they are pro riders because they can go fast on a bike not because they are intellectual giants.

 

But like andydude said, ignorance is not a defence, how many more are going to be caught for not getting their TUE's right before they sharpen up on that?

Or lets think about the unthinkable for a minute, maybe they're doping and TUE is the only possible explanation.  

I agree with you.

 

I do feel a little sympathy for her (like for all dopers, but that's another discussion), but ignorance is not a defense.

 

To be honest, I can't really believe that she and the doctor doesn't know about anti-doping rules, why non-performing medications are also on the list and that they don't know what a TUE is and the related process. Can they both really be that naive?

 

Unfortunately she will have to take this one on the chin and hopefully all the other athletes learn from this. But did she take it on the chin? Did she lose any prize money? Did anything really happen?

Huh, actually yes. She received a lifetime ban from the Epic. And she has to pay back prize money.

I believe that she made a mistake. Not all Drs are knowledgeable on elite athletes and meds and SAIDS and UCI and and and and....

you can just type the name of that drug on the SAIDS website and it says its banned?

bat she can race other races this year right? 

Huh, actually yes. She received a lifetime ban from the Epic. And she has to pay back prize money.

 

I believe that she made a mistake. Not all Drs are knowledgeable on elite athletes and meds and SAIDS and UCI and and and and....

All the prize money or only the Epic money, bearing in mind she tested positive 3 times and raced during the period that she was banned. 

I really do get the impression that a few of the pro's that got caught were ignorant about TUE's and maybe not deliberately cheating.

 

I guess they are pro riders because they can go fast on a bike not because they are intellectual giants.

 

But like andydude said, ignorance is not a defence, how many more are going to be caught for not getting their TUE's right before they sharpen up on that?

 

I get that impression as well.......that being the case, do pro's not need a pro licence & if so is there no requirement/test that understanding doping & doping related issues like knowing TUE procedures & what drugs are banned & why?

 

Also, I would think sponsors would make it their business to ensure their sponsored athletes are well versed in these matters....

 

Seems alot of trouble could be circumvented if the athlete is adequately educated, unless the 'ignorance' card is simply played when caught.

 

 

 

All the prize money or only the Epic money, bearing in mind she tested positive 3 times and raced during the period that she was banned.

What I do understand is that there is a strong possibility that some (some, not all) cyclists have not been made aware of UCI and SAIDS regulations RE testing, TUE's and the resulting procedures.

As she said in her statement, she declared on the spot (at the very moment of testing) that she was using med A and med B.

There is enough evidence of previous cases where CSA and ASA (Athletics South Africa) have let athletes down.

Or lets think about the unthinkable for a minute, maybe they're doping and TUE is the only possible explanation.  

I don't quite share your cynicism. But yes, every time a pro gets nailed for getting their TUE's wrong, the "I was ignorant with the process" excuse gets weaker and weaker.

you can just type the name of that drug on the SAIDS website and it says its banned?

 

bat she can race other races this year right? 

Typed it in on http://www.drugfreesport.org.za/online-medication-check/

and got this back immediately.

HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE Category: PROHIBITED in-and-out of competition

I feel a bit for Yolande, she is just a 40yr old farm lady from Oudtshoorn that loves to ride her bike. She doesn't really need the prize money, but I've no doubt the Epic ban and any other bans that may follow will hurt her far more. 

But rules is rules, as much as I personally won't join the lynch mob and put her in the same cat as some of our other recent fallen heroes... she is in that cat. 

How long has she been racing as a pro??.......and she's not familiar with the process despite the fact that its permanently in the spot light!!!!

Fair enough

 

But say she does have the medical condition (which I am sure can be proven or disproven), are we saying it was just an amazing lucky coincidence that she now had an excuse to use a masking agent while doping up on other stuff?

Nobody wants to go down in an embarrassing blaze of glory....it's easier to just say....ek is tos jammer....my kop het uitgehaak.....

I feel a bit for Yolande, she is just a 40yr old farm lady from Oudtshoorn that loves to ride her bike. She doesn't really need the prize money, but I've no doubt the Epic ban and any other bans that may follow will hurt her far more. 

 

But rules is rules, as much as I personally won't join the lynch mob and put her in the same cat as some of our other recent fallen heroes... she is in that cat. 

Nice person, salt of the earth etc. Not a doper. Only Lance type personalities dope. 

 

 

I guess they are pro riders because they can go fast on a bike not because they are intellectual giants.

 

 

It's Monday....not Friday....so I will go as easy as I can with this one.....but wow....maybe they just chose their one given talent above the other.....

Perhaps people who don't cheat never consider that they could fall foul of the system due to ignorance .

Bring naive is not a crime.

Nice person, salt of the earth etc. Not a doper. Only Lance type personalities dope. 

You saying charitable people dope?

Perhaps people who don't cheat never consider that they could fall foul of the system due to ignorance .

Bring naive is not a crime.

This I can support....and sincerely hope this is the case.....on a different tangent and no bearing on the post above....what constitutes  someone being a nice person....some people can live with someone for years and never know their true character or dark secrets they may hide...meeting someone at a race and they come across as pleasant or chatting merrily and civilly here on the hub....having some beers on regular occasions and whatever else....can never tell us about the true person....

You saying charitable people dope?

Give his jerseys back already! 

Raised millions for charity - check

Promoted cycling worldwide - check 

Cancer survivor - check

All round good guy - check (ok maybe not)