Elliot King receives five-year ban for Anti-Doping Rule Violations

British Weightlifter Elliot King has received a five-year ban from sport following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) for the Presence and Use of four Prohibited Substances.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) collected a urine Sample from Mr King on 12 April 2024 at the Home Nations Squads and UK Armed Forces Tournament 2024. Analysis of his Sample returned positive test results for the Prohibited Substances nandrolone, oxandrolone and drostanolone (and their Metabolites), and for Metabolites of the Prohibited Substance, metandienone.

Mr King was notified by UKAD on 12 and 20 June 2024 of the alleged ADRVs and was provisionally suspended. The weightlifter responded by confirming that the Prohibited Substances had entered his system through “wilful and knowing self-administration with the view of increasing muscle mass”.

Subsequently, UKAD charged Mr King with the ADRVs. Under the World Anti-Doping Code, sanctions may be increased by a further two years due to Aggravating Circumstances, such as the Use of multiple Prohibited Substances. Having assessed the circumstances of Mr King’s case, UKAD considered that the Aggravating Circumstances in this case are such that Mr King’s four-year period of Ineligibility should be increased by a further two years, leading to a total period of Ineligibility of six years.

Mr King responded to the Charge by admitting the ADRVs and accepting the period of ineligibility within 20-days of the Charge Letter. In doing so, in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules he was able to reduce the asserted six-year period of Ineligibility to five years.

Recognising the time he spent provisionally suspended, Mr King’s five-year period of ineligibility is deemed to have commenced on 12 June 2024 and will expire on 11 June 2029.

Hamish Coffey, UKAD’s Director of Operations said: “The 2021 World Anti-Doping Code facilitates the imposition of a lengthier ban in certain circumstances, including cases like this, where an Athlete has intentionally used multiple Prohibited Substances. Substances like these have no place in sport and Athletes should be clear that if they deliberately set out to gain a performance enhancing benefit in this way, UKAD will take robust action to ensure that any ban imposed reflects the seriousness of the Athlete’s conduct.”

UKAD website

WADA Prohibited List 2024