Golfer banned for anabolic substance possession

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency says leading Australian amateur golfer Daniel Nisbet has been given an 18-month ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the possession of a prohibited substance.

ASADA said Monday the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service stopped Nisbet at Brisbane airport on Aug. 10, 2009, and seized a product in his possession listed as containing Norandrostene, an anabolic steroid. The matter was referred to ASADA as a possible violation of doping rules.

It said analysis of the seized product confirmed the presence of the banned substance dehydroepiandrosterone, a steroid also known as DHEA. ASADA said DHEA is listed as an anabolic agent on the World Anti-Doping Code prohibited list in and out of competition.

In deciding to impose a reduced 18-month sanction, ASADA said the Geneva, Switzerland-based CAS stated that Nisbet's conduct ``was not aimed at cheating in his chosen sport.''

``Among factors that the CAS took into consideration were that Nisbet was of good character, that there is no evidence he ever consumed a prohibited substance and that he fully cooperated with the investigating authorities,'' ASADA said.

Nisbet, a 19-year-old from Caboolture, was stopped at the Brisbane airport while attempting to re-enter the country after representing Australia at an amateur tournament in Canada in August.

Nisbet is No. 26 on the world amateur rankings.

He was able to compete at the inaugural Asian Amateur Championship in China, from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 last year, because his case had not been heard.