Not Alright For Dillian Whyte After Two-Year Doping Ban

By Terence Dooley

 

London's Dillian "The Villain" Whyte, 24, has had his career put on ice for two-years after being hit with a ban for his use of Methylhexaneamine.  Whyte, 9-0 (6), attributed the failed test to his use of Jack3d, an over-the-counter supplement that he took ahead of his fourth-round stoppage win over Sandor Balogh on October 13, his last contest, and which had recently been banned here in the U.K. due to concerns over a link to high blood pressure and other negative side-effects.

 

‘Methylhexaneamine (DMAA) is a banned substance ‘in-competition’ that frequently appears in over the counter and internet bought products but not clearly on the label,’ explained Graham Arthur, UKAD’s Director of Legal, in a statement that was issued in August 2012.

 

‘Athletes who use sports supplements need to choose reputable manufacturers who can justify their claims with scientific evidence, and have their products screened to minimise the risk of testing positive for a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List.  UK Anti-Doping continues to work closely with the MHRA [The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] to protect the health of athletes and to prevent doping in sport.’

 

Whyte's ban began on October 13th and will end on 12 October 2014.  The UKDA's decision is available via http://www.ukad.org.uk/anti-doping-rule-violations/current-violations/.  They ruled that: 'Jack3d is a manufactured pre-workout supplement.  Its purpose is to enhance sport performance.  The Respondent was taking it for that purpose and doing so right up until shortly before he fought.  The connection between his taking of the product containing the Specified Substance and the competition was immediate.  Notwithstanding his ‘open use’ of it and the fact he brought it to the attention of the doping control officer (in general terms on the form and expressly by showing him the tub — which UKAD accepted he did), the circumstances required that he exercised greater precautionary measures. He failed to satisfy the Tribunal that he had done so,' when making their decision.

 

As noted above, Whyte showed the UKAD the tub of Jack3d after his fourth-round TKO of Balogh, but they noted it was Whyte's responsibility to research the supplement prior to taking it, and found that: 'Consequently the Respondent failed to discharge the burden of establishing that he was not significantly at fault and so cannot succeed in reducing the otherwise minimum period of Ineligibility', when issuing his ban.