JOHANNESBURG – South African mountain biker Max Knox on Tuesday was found guilty of doping and received a four-year ban from the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS).
SAIDS made the announcement that Knox was charged for suspicious variations in his Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), that indicated doping and could not give a satisfactory explanation to the panel of international experts appointed.
The former SA Marathon MTB champion represented the country several times at the World Cross Country Championships. According to the ruling, he will be stripped of all his titles from June 16, 2015, and will also have to return all prizes, money and medals since that date.
Knox’s ABP, monitored from February 2013 to June 2017, included irregularities of an artificially increased haemoglobin concentration and bone marrow stimulation, followed by bone marrow suppression.
The ABP was reviewed in conjunction with the cyclist’s competition schedules, race results and intelligence supplied to SAIDS. However, Knox’s explanations and supporting documents were rejected by the panel, as they didn’t provide explanations for the irregularities.
He further appealed against the initial decision, but failed to file any documentation within the prescribed filing period. Knox was one of the three mountain bikers given doping bans in the past 18 months, as a result of a year-long investigation and tip-offs.
SAIDS CEO, Khalid Galant, said the convictions came from the first phase of the investigation undertaken in collaboration with the Hawks. "The investigation will continue to look at athletes, doctors and trainers and whether they have a role in the doping supply network," said Galant.
SAIDS Education Officer, Jay Mannikam, doing and Anti-doping Education workshop with Bowls SA athletes – over a hundred Bowls players from various provinces were in attendance. Such a great event! pic.twitter.com/bFYSHSA00f
— SAIDS (@drugfreesportZA) October 15, 2018
SAIDS announced early this year that Shan Wilson, who was tested March 25, 2014, was one of the three bikers found guilty of doping offences. He was banned for six years after being found guilty of doping on five counts, which included the presence, attempted trafficking or trafficking of a prohibited substance and complicity. A female biker tested in March this year was banned for two years after an adverse analytical finding for Erythropoietin.
"The investigation was triggered by whistleblowers and we are very grateful to their efforts to keep sports clean," said Galant. "We take tip-offs about any sporting discipline or individuals seriously and encourage people with good information to come forward. Any information remains strictly confidential and can be submitted via our website on an anonymous basis."