British Lacrosse player Michael Pomfret receives five-year ban for Anti-Doping Rule Violations
British Lacrosse player Michael Pomfret has been banned from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport for five years, following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of Prohibited Substances.
On 28 February 2025, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected a urine Sample from Mr Pomfret, Out-of-Competition, at his home address. Analysis of Mr Pomfret’s Sample returned Adverse Analytical Finding (AAFs) for RAD140 and ostarine, both of which are SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators).
SARMS are prohibited at all times in sport, pose significant health risks, and are not approved for human consumption.
UKAD notified Mr Pomfret of his AAFs and imposed a Provisional Suspension. In response, Mr Pomfret admitted the ADRVs and suggested that the AAFs were caused by his use of a supplement which, he suspected, was contaminated with the Prohibited Substances detected in his Sample. That supplement was not made available for analysis, therefore Mr Pomfret had had no scientific evidence to support his contamination hypothesis.
UKAD subsequently charged Mr Pomfret with both ADRVs, which he admitted. Mr Pomfret also accepted the asserted period of Ineligibility of six years (comprising of a four-year period of Ineligibility, plus an additional two-year period of Ineligibility on account of Aggravating Circumstances).
Mr Pomfret was able to reduce his period of Ineligibility from six to five years, having admitted the ADRVs and accepted the asserted period of Ineligibility within twenty days of being charged by UKAD.
Mr Pomfret’s ban is deemed to have begun on 9 May 2025 (the date of the Provisional Suspension) and will expire on 8 May 2030.
Technical terms and more information
RAD140 and ostarine are classified as non-Specified Substances in the WADA Prohibited List. The Presence and/or Use of a non-Specified Prohibited Substance that is the Athlete’s first violation attracts a four-year ban (unless the Athlete can establish that the violation was not intentional).
Aggravating Circumstances are referred to at ADR Article 10.4. In Mr Pomfret’s case, UKAD considered there to be Aggravating Circumstances, being the presence of two prohibited substances (both of which are SARMs, substances that have similar performance enhancing properties to anabolic steroids) (see paragraph 29 of the Issued Decision).
Pursuant to ADR Article 10.8.1, if the Athlete (or other Person) charged with an ADRV that carries an asserted ban of four years or more accepts the charge(s) and asserted length of ban within twenty days of being charged by UKAD, they are entitled to receive a one-year reduction in the length of ban asserted.
Please note, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, capitalised terms used in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the UK Anti-Doping Rules and/or World Anti-Doping Code.
