CCES announces two-year sanction for CIS football player

OTTAWA – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today the results of the final Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) case under review from the off-season testing conducted on CIS football players during the month of June 2010. Darcy Pelosse, a 3rd year McGill University Defensive Lineman from Aurora, ON, had his urine sample return an adverse analytical finding for Clomiphene and Tamoxifen, prohibited substances according to the 2010 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

In response to the CCES' notification of the adverse analytical finding, Mr. Pelosse waived his right to a hearing, acknowledged the anti-doping rule violation, and accepted a two-year period of ineligibility (commencing June 20, 2010 – ending June 20, 2012). Mr. Pelosse is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), including training with teammates.

"McGill University's Anti-Doping Policy clearly states that we are unequivocally opposed to any use by student athletes of any banned substance or performance-enhancing drugs or practices in contravention of the rules of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES) and of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)," said Drew Love, Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation, McGill University. "We continue to underline with our student athletes the need for strict adherence to the rules governing substance use."

On March 31, the CCES conducted or attempted to conduct doping control tests on 62 University of Waterloo football players. From the 61 urine samples collected and 20 blood samples collected, the CCES has issued anti-doping rule violations against eight athletes: four for admitting to the use of a prohibited substance; three for the use of a prohibited substance including the world's second hGH positive finding; and one for refusing sample collection.

The CCES conducted unannounced tests on CIS football players from universities across the country during the month of June with the help of the CIS and its member institutions who provided athletes' performance records and information on their home locations. From those home visits, the CCES disclosed two anti-doping rule violations and indicated that it was managing one other potential violation. The announcement today concludes the final CIS case for the CCES to date.

"CIS continues to make it a priority to address the issue of doping. CIS hosted an Anti-Doping Symposium for Football Coaches on November 26," said Marg McGregor, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Interuniversity Sport. "We will continue to work with our partners including the CCES, the CFL, and Sport Canada to enhance our testing and anti-doping education programs."

The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission, to foster ethical sport for all Canadians, is carried out through research, promotion, education, detection and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations. For further information, visit www.cces.ca.

-CCES-