Pippa Manby acted for the Rugby Football Union in prosecuting Chris Mayor for anti-doping offences relating to human growth hormone (hGH), a prohibited substance and class C drug. Mr Mayor was an elite and highly successful player having played for clubs including Sale Sharks, Wasps and Northampton. He won the Premiership with Sale Sharks in 2006 scoring a try in the final.
The Panel rejected Mr Mayor’s defence that he was attempting to purchase hGH online from an associate in a ‘moment of madness’ in order to aid his father who was suffering from a knee injury. The Panel found the charges of attempted use and attempted trafficking to be made out and banned Mr Mayor from all sport for four years. The case was possible as a result of police cooperation with UK Anti-Doping and reinforces the important role that law enforcement and government bodies can play in the fight for clean sport.
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