Canadian bobsledder Serge Despres’ ban from athletic competition was extended to two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Despres and WADA both agreed that the positive nandrolone test was most likely the result of his use of a dietary supplement, specifically Kaizen HMB (”Aribitration court extends bobsledder’s ban,” November 12).

The CAS set aside an earlier 20-month suspension for the anabolic steroid nandrolone — which testers agreed likely was contained in a tainted supplement, according to a statement by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. But the CAS but replaced it with a standard 24-month ban when Despres failed to demonstrate “no significant fault.”

The CAS decision states, “…Mr. Despres did not show a good faith effort to leave no reasonable stone unturned before he ingested Kaizen HMB.” The CAS cited the driver’s “failure to contact the manufacturer directly” and a “failure to obtain a guarantee directly from the manufacturer.” Despres is now ineligible until Aug. 9, 2009.

But the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport believes that an athlete is responsible for whatever substance is found in their system regardless of whether it was the result of consuming an unknowingly contaminated dietary supplement. Dietary supplement contamination has emerged as a major problem for drug-tested athletes.

Serge Despres is banned until August 9, 2009.