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Ryan Napoleon Given Three Month Ban

by Josh Huger (MrUtopia)

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Created August 27th, 2010 03:05:59 PM

Modified August 27th, 2010 03:05:59 PM

USATODAY.com along with many other sources report that Australia’s Ryan Napoleon has been given a three month ban from swimming due to a doping incident. This three month ban has caused the distance swimmer to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games which will be held Oct. 3-14 in New Delhi.

The controversy with this issue is that Napoleon was not aware that what he was taking was on the banned substance list. It is reported that a pharmacist wrongly labeled his asthma inhaler which contained the banned drug formoterol.

In a statement the governing body said, “It is clear that the swimmer had no intention of enhancing his sports performances.

FINA who openly admits that the failed test was not the swimmers fault said, “The doping panel underlines the responsibility of the athlete to check his medicine.”

Swimming Australia released a statement by Napoleon saying, “It's devastating. It's extremely disappointing and something that I have been dealing with since April this year when I was first notified that there was an issue.

"A mistake was made and the FINA panel accepted that a mistake was made in the hearing, but as an athlete I still understand that I have a responsibility to check all my medication thoroughly. It may not feel like it now but I know that I will get through this and become a stronger person and athlete because of it."

In a statement released by smh.com.au Australian head coach Leigh Nugent said, ''It was a mistake by the pharmacist and Ryan would have thought it was OK because he would have had no reason to think there was a problem. I think FINA have indicated that they see it as Ryan not doing anything untoward and they have acknowledged part of the problem lies in the prescription.

''I don't think there will be any appeal. I think Ryan has made the decision just to accept that he has made a mistake, it is unfortunate but he's just going to move on and get on with the rest of his swimming life and serve out his term of restriction. It's never good when something like this happens, but there are worse situations.''