Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges that the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) has imposed a three-year period of Ineligibility on athlete Connor Ziebell for the Presence of a Metabolite of a Prohibited Substance.
Mr Ziebell returned an Adverse Analytical Finding from an In-Competition doping control test on 12 October 2025 while competing in the Super XIII rugby championship match between RC Saint-Gaudens and Pia XIII Baroudeur, in Saint Gaudens, France.
Mr Ziebell’s sample was analysed at the French Anti-Doping Laboratory and the presence of (4R,5R)-4-{[4-Cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]amino}-6,6,6-trifluoro-5-hydroxyhexanoic acid, a metabolite of LGD 4033 LTM (Ligandrol) was detected.
Ligandrol is listed under Class S1.2 (Other Anabolic Agents) of the World Anti-Doping Code – International Standard – Prohibited List 2025 (2025 Prohibited List). Ligandrol is a non-Specified Substance and is prohibited at all times.
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The Athlete was provisionally suspended from 12 November 2025.
In accordance with Article L. 232-23 of the French Sports Code, the AFLD have imposed a four-year period of Ineligibility on Mr Ziebell, for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance or its Metabolites or Markers in an Athlete’s Sample.
However, as Mr Ziebell admitted to the violation and accepted the consequences, his period of Ineligibility was reduced to three years in accordance with Article L. 232-23-3-10 of the French Sports Code.
Mr Ziebell’s three-year period of Ineligibility commenced on 12 November 2025, being the date he was provisionally suspended.
Mr Ziebell is ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 11:59pm 11 November 2028. He is also not permitted to compete in a non-signatory professional league, or event organised by a non-signatory International or National level event organisation.
Additional information on the Prohibited Substance
LGD-4033 (Ligandrol), originally developed for the treatment of muscle wasting conditions such as aging, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer, is promoted as a selective non-steroidal anabolic agent.
It is claimed to be a substance that induces muscle (and bone) growth without the side effects associated with steroid use. However, information on the safety of LGD-4033 is scarce due to a lack of medium and long-term clinical trials - hence the medium and long-term health impacts are unknown.
Sport Integrity Australia is committed to protecting the right of clean athletes to fair competition. If you are aware of any suspicious doping activity, you can report it anonymously via the Sport Integrity Australia website.
Sport Integrity Australia recommends you check all your substances before you take them on the Sport Integrity App.