Overview:

Anti-doping – cannabis – recreational use – defendant tested positive for cannabis after winning NZ boxing title – he used cannabis at party two weeks before tournament – Tribunal accepted defendant’s claim that he was unaware that cannabis was prohibited substance under WADA Code – defendant not a member of Boxing NZ’s elite or development squad and may not have received same level of information as those in squads – however, this did not excuse cannabis offending. Tribunal reviewed principles for imposing penalties in cannabis cases – Tribunal referred to sanctions imposed in UK, Canada and Australia for cannabis violations – Tribunal considered warning and reprimand was appropriate penalty when the cannabis use was unrelated to the sport, was not taken for performance enhancing purposes, did not represent a danger to others and there were no other aggravating factors – warning and reprimand imposed.