ONE of Australian golf’s rising stars, Daniel Nisbet will be forced to spend the next 18 months away from competition after he was slapped with an 18-month ban for the possession of a prohibited substance.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision to impose an 18-month sanction on the Caboolture prodigy was this week acknowledged by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service stopped Nisbet at Brisbane Airport on August 10, 2009 and seized a product in his possession listed as containing Norandrostene.
Nisbet was returning home from amateur competition in Canada when he was swooped on by Customs officials and the matter was referred to ASADA as a possible violation of doping rules.
Subsequent analysis of the seized product confirmed the presence of the banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
DHEA is listed as an S1 Anabolic Agent on the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List and is prohibited both in and out of competition.
Athletes in possession, using or attempting to use this prohibited substance potentially face serious penalties, including a two-year ban for first offences.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s report found the 19-year-old was young and relatively inexperienced when he brought the banned drug home from Canada, but there was no evidence he had ever consumed a prohibited substance.
The CAS later heard the substance was for a ‘non athlete friend’.
In deciding to impose a reduced 18-month sanction, the CAS stated that Nisbet’s conduct ‘was not aimed at cheating in his chosen sport.’
Among factors that the CAS took into consideration were that Nisbet is of good character; that there is no evidence he ever consumed a prohibited substance; and that he fully cooperated with the investigating authorities.
CAS backdated the sanction start date to November 25, 2009 – the day the athlete was provisionally suspended.
Nisbet, Australia’s No.1 ranked amateur in 2009, is ineligible to compete in any national and international sports that have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code until midnight on May 24, 2011.
It’s devastating news for the player many tip to be the next big thing in Australian golf.
Golf Australia has committed to assisting Nisbet through available means.
“Daniel has represented Australia on a number of occasions and has shown the tenacity, character and ability to suggest he has a very bright future in the game,” Golf Australia CEO Stephen Pitt said.
“While this sanction comes at an important time in his development, we are confident that Daniel will overcome this and achieve the goals he sets himself and we are equally confident the Australian golfing community will support Daniel through this period.”
Nisbet had a dominant 2009 season that included victories in the Queensland Men’s Amateur at Nudgee Golf Club, Queensland Men’s Amateur Strokeplay and the Golf SA Amateur Classic. He was also the 2008 Australian junior winner and is a two-time Queensland junior champion.
It is understood Nisbet was aiming to turn pro in 2010, however those plans are now out of bounds until 2011.
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