Player banned for evading drugs test

London Skolars player Sebastian Kolasa has become the first British athlete to be banned for deliberately evading a drugs test.

Kolasa, 19, made just one substitute appearance for the club last season, and avoided an out-of-competition test conducted by UK Anti-Doping in August.

He has been handed a 15-month ban, backdated to September 1, 2013, following a tribunal and appeal hearing.

Skolars chief executive Hector McNeil said: “The club views this whole episode extremely seriously and, like the sport as a whole, we take a strong anti-doping stance.

“The national anti-doping panel that heard the case acknowledged that Sebastian did not commit any anti-doping rule violation involving use of a banned substance, and in fact two days later provided a negative test, but evading a test is a serious offence which is recognised in the severity of the sentence.

“Sebastian is a promising youngster, who realises he has made a serious error of judgement and is full of remorse.

“He pleaded guilty to the charge and co-operated fully with UK Anti-Doping, for which he deserves credit.”