Sanction received by wheelchair rugby athlete
Sport Integrity Australia acknowledges the decision of Wheelchair Rugby Australia to impose a 3-year period of Ineligibility on athlete Luke Matthews for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance, namely Phentermine.
Mr Matthews, a wheelchair rugby athlete for the Queensland Tornadoes (Division 2), returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) from an In-Competition doping control test on 4 May 2024.
Mr Matthews sample was analysed by the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, part of the National Measurement Institute and the presence of Phentermine was detected.
The substance Phentermine is listed under class S6.A (Non-Specified Stimulants) under the World Anti-Doping Code – International Standard – Prohibited List 2024 (2024 Prohibited List) and is prohibited In-Competition. Phentermine is classified as a Non-Specified Substance under the Prohibited List 2024.
In accordance with Article 10.8.1 of the Australian National Anti-Doping Policy 2021 (ANADP) Wheelchair Rugby Australia has imposed a 3-year period of Ineligibility on Mr Matthews, commencing on 4 May 2024.
Mr Matthews is ineligible to participate in any sports that have adopted a World Anti-Doping Code compliant anti-doping policy until 4 May 2027. He is also not permitted to compete in a non-Signatory professional league or Event organised by a non-Signatory International Event organisation or a non-Signatory national-level event organisation.
Additional information on the Prohibited Substance
Phentermine is classified as a Schedule 4 prescription-only medicine and should only be administered by a general practitioner. It is known to cause serious health side effects including chest pain, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, headaches and dizziness, and requires careful consideration if used in combination with other medications.
Classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency as an ‘S6 Stimulant’ class of substance, Phentermine is listed on the Prohibited Substances and Methods list and is prohibited for use ‘In-Competition’.
Stimulants are a class of drug that accelerate the function of the central nervous system. They stimulate the sympathetic nervous system which causes an increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and affects respiratory rate. They also suppress sensations of hunger, thirst and fatigue which when combined with sharp rises in body temperature result in an increased risk of dehydration, complete exhaustion and death.
