A club cricketer has been banned from all sport for four years, after NZ Customs and Drug Free Sport NZ seized a haul of anabolic steroids at the border.
Vaibhav Sharma has copped the suspension from Sports Tribunal of New Zealand, after a package of 26 vials an 2250 tablets was intercepted. The anabolic agents are illegal to buy without prescription or unapproved for medical use in humans.
The haul was one of the biggest border seizures investigated by DFSNZ.
"This case sends a clear message," said DFSNZ chief executive Nick Paterson. "If you play sport, anti-doping rules apply to you and protect you, whatever your level of competition.
"Anyone importing or buying banned substances risks a ban from all sport."
The anabolic agents increase muscle mass and strength, and can aid weight loss, but users risk side effects that include heart attacks, impotence, depression and liver damage.
"This is one of the largest import cases we've seen," said Paterson. "It's concerning to see such a quantity and combination of substances, and that the individuals ordering these
substances may be doing so without medical advice.
"Nonetheless, we're pleased to have taken such a substantial quantity of doping material out of circulation."
The substances seized were:
- Nadrol-50, oxymethalone 50mg, 15 bottles x 50 tablets
- Sustanon, sustanon 250mg, 5 x 10ml vials
- Tren-A-100, trenbolone acetate, 100mg/ml, 3 x 10ml vials
- Masteron, drostanolone propionate 100mg/ml, 2 x 10ml vials
- Deca-300, nandrolone decanoate, 300mg/ml, 6 x 10ml vials
- Cyp-300, testosterone cypionate, 300mg/ml, 3 x 10ml vials
- Test Depot, testosterone enanthate, 250mg/ml, 2 x 10 ml vials
- Cypionex, testosterone cypionate, 250mg/ml 5 x 10ml vials
- Clen-40, clenbuterol, 40mcg, 15 bottles x 100 tablets
