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Johannesburg, Thursday, 11 December
2008 – Athletics South Africa (ASA) announced that a newly
constituted tribunal to hear the Gert Thys doping case was constituted in
Johannesburg today, 11th December 2008.
The tribunal was chaired by Mr Raymond Hack
and consisted of Dr Harold Adams and Ms Jody Foster. ASA was represented by
Chris Hattingh.
The athlete, Mr Gert Thys, was not present
neither was he represented. He was formally informed of the time, date and
venue of the tribunal but informed ASA that he will not be in attendance.
The tribunal unanimously found that Mr Gert
Thys committed a doping violation and declared Mr Thys ineligible to
participate in athletics from 25th April 2006 to the 11th December 2008 (Date of tribunal)
– a period of 2 years seven and a half months. In terms of the decision
Mr Gert Thys will forfeit all income, prizes and benefits derived from his
participation in the Seoul Marathon on the 17th March 2006.
ASA welcomed the decision of the tribunal
and believes that it sends out a strong message to athletes that the use of
banned substances will not be tolerated and, even if it takes time, justice
will prevail.
Gert Thys will be reinstated as soon as he
has complied with the obligatory number of doping tests that needs to be done
during an athlete’s period of ineligibility/suspension.
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