On the track at the London Paralympics; James Brown (back of tandem) has now been banned.
Irish paracyclist James Brown has been banned for 2½ years after a doping violation earlier this year.
The bronze medal winner at the Paralympics in 2012 failed to give a sample for testing when requested of him back in February.
Cycling Ireland said it was disappointed by his actions, adding it had zero tolerance for any form of anti doping violations.
An effort was made to collect a sample at his UK home on February 2nd at 8am but he declined saying he had “resigned from the squad” the previous day.
It was explained to the 52-year-old his actions may constitute a doping violation but he persisted and signed the forms accordingly.
He later said he was also unable to find a witness to the test on the day, as he was required to because he is partially sighted.
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And while his partner was present, Brown said if he had given the blood and urine samples she and her children would have been late for work and school.
His ban could have been four years but that was not imposed because he made a prompt admission.
The reasoned decision also said he had made a "rash judgement which he now regretted".
He was also starting a new job on the morning the testers called, a fact that added to his decision not to provide a sample.
And the reasoned decision accepted there was no banned or controlled substance involved in the case.
Sport Ireland also said when dealing with Brown after the incident it found him to be "extremely frank, forthcoming and honest".
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Sport Ireland wrote to Brown about the matter on February 12th and he responded four days later and outlined his reasons for failing to provide the samples.
“I had given Cycling Ireland written notice that I was withdrawing from the national squad with immediate effect,” he said.
“The reason for this is that Cycling Ireland have been unable to find a suitable tandem pilot for me.
“Despite the fact I’m in the best shape of my life I am not getting any younger.
"And I believe that my withdrawal from the Irish paracycling squad is permanent since the likelihood of their finding a suitable pilot is extremely low under the current funding arrangements.
“Furthermore, on the day the anti-doping officers visited I was unable to locate a suitable witness which I’m required to have because of my sight impairment.
"On that basis, the test could not be conducted.”
A statement from Sport Ireland and Cycling Ireland broke news of the ban this afternoon.
"Sport Ireland and Cycling Ireland have announced that Paracyclist James Brown has committed a violation of Article 2.3 of the Irish Anti-Doping Rules – 'Evading Sample collection, or without compelling justification, refusing or failing to submit to Sample collection after notification as authorised under these Rules or other anti-doping rules'.
"The violation refers to an incident on 2nd February 2016 when Brown did not provide samples in an out of competition test.
"Brown, who was a bronze medal winner at the Paralympic Games in London, admitted promptly to the violation, which resulted in a decision by Sport Ireland to rule on a period of ineligibility for him of 2 years and 6 months which will expire on the 23rd August 2018.
"The official Sport Ireland statement can be accessed HERE, and the details of the reasoned decision can be accessed HERE.
"Cycling Ireland are disappointed that an Irish cyclist, and in particular a rider with the experience of Brown, would break the anti-doping rules.
"Education is provided to all athletes, especially to those in the high performance system. Cycling Ireland has zero tolerance for any violation of the anti-doping rules by cyclists."
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