CCAA Soccer Athlete Suspended for Cannabis Violation

(Ottawa, Ontario – December 20, 2011) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that Joseph Costouros, a Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) soccer athlete, has received a two-month sanction for an anti-doping rule violation. The violation occurred during in-competition doping control on October 29, 2011 and resulted from the athlete’s urine sample returning an adverse analytical finding for cannabis.

Cannabinoids are classified as “specified substances” on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List, banned in competition. Under the rules of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), an athlete facing a first violation involving a “specified substance” can seek a sanction reduction from two years of ineligibility down to a reprimand. Based on a fault analysis surrounding the athlete’s use of cannabis, the CCES proposed a sanction of a two-month period of ineligibility from sport.

In response to the CCES’ notification of the adverse analytical finding, Mr. Costouros waived his right to a hearing, acknowledged the anti-doping rule violation, and accepted a two-month sanction. Because he had agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension on November 18, his sanction will end January 18, 2012. The athlete is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the CADP, including training with teammates.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport is an independent, national, not-for-profit organization. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.

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