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The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has announced that two Australian athletes will be facing suspensions for using anabolic steroids. These are Jane Dike, a weightlifter, and Andrew Muhlhan, a sprinter.

From FoxSports.com:

NSW Weightlifter Jane Dike and sprinter Andrew Muhlhan were both banned for two years after testing positive to steroids.

Dike, a former Nigerian sprinter who competed in the 4×100m relay at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, tested positive for methandienone on three separate occasions between July and September 2008.

Muhlhan, a finalist in the 2006 Stawell Gift and a noted sprint coach, tested positive for the prohibited substances androstenedione and testosterone in an in-competition sample collected by ASADA at the Run for the Willow athletics event in Daylesford, Victoria on December 6.

Muhlhan protested the inclusion of his name in the list that ASADA had released. He argues that the timing of the tests went against the standards and regulations set internationally. The Australian Federal Court, however, listened to ASADA’s appeal and the dispute was overturned. Both Muhlhan and Dike will be banned from participating in sports for the next 2 years. ASADA chairman Richard Ings hope that this will be the start of steroid testing among Australia’s professional athletes and would pave a way for legitimate control over doping drugs. ASADA aims to continue the practice of target testing now that the court has sided with them. Target testing is based on abnormal blood and drug parameters, injury, and a sudden improvement in performance to name a few. ASADA conducts testing whether in-competition (within twelve hours before competing) or out-of-competition.

Category: Anabolic Steroids | Tags: Andrew Muhlhan, ASADA, Australia, Jane Dike, performance enhancing drugs, steroids, target testing