OTTAWA (CFL.ca wire) — Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced on Thursday that University of Western Ontario football player Matt Baxter has been suspended for two years as a result of an anti-doping rule violation.
Baxter participated in an unannounced out-of-competition doping control conducted by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) on Aug. 30, 2007. Baxter’s sample is confirmed to have contained Letrozole metabolite, which is a prohibited substance that carries with it a two-year period of ineligibility.
In accordance with CIS regulations, the Western football team will not be sanctioned.
Baxter was currently completing his third year of CIS eligibility.
CIS began its doping control program in 1990. Since that time over 5,200 tests have been conducted on student-athletes and 47 doping infractions have occurred.
“Using any substance on the banned list, whether it is perceived to be performance enhancing or not, is a big gamble and quite often it is a health risk,” said CIS chief executive officer Marg McGregor. “Out of respect for the game and consideration of fair play, athletes should avoid all banned substances to avoid getting sidelined.”
