BREAKING: Sayed reinstated after Pena tests positive for banned substance
JOHANNESBURG – Irshaad Sayed has been reinstated as EFC interim bantamweight champion after his November 2016 title unification bout defeat to full champion Demarte Pena was overturned and declared a no contest.
This after the South African Institute For Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) conducted a full investigation and hearing into test results from February this year, which showed that Pena consumed a banned substance prior to his against Sayed.
In summary, the following was decided at the independent hearing conducted on 25 May 2017 by SAIDS, chaired by respected sports lawyer, Professor Steve Cornelius:
- Pena was found guilty of inadvertent use of a prohibited substance prior to his fight with Sayed.
- It was acknowledged that Pena had not acted with intent, significant fault or negligence, due to the fact that the banned substances in question were traced to contaminated supplements. It was further acknowledged that Pena had declared he was taking said substances, and that he had checked that the ingredients listed did not contain any prohibited substances before consumption.
- In preparation for his hearing, Pena provided detailed daily records of the supplement consumed, as well as laboratory evidence showing the contaminated supplements contained the banned substances in question.
- An automatic consequence of the finding is that the result of the fight between Pena and Sayed is annulled. This means that Pena reverts to the status of bantamweight champion, and Sayed interim bantamweight champion.
Before the hearing the minimum prescribed interim sanction was implemented against Pena, namely a provisional suspension, which lasted for slightly more than three months. Due to the finding by the panel of no intent, significant fault or negligence by Pena, the suspension was dissolved at the conclusion of the hearing.
Hey @thewolfpena, @EFCGraeme said you want my email address? It's Demarteisjuiced@gmail.cheat.za
— Irshaad Sayed (@IrshaadSayed) June 20, 2017
If any athlete tests positive to a banned substance, the process it takes for SAIDS to make a final ruling is thorough. Information shared with EFC during the time of investigations and hearings is confidential and only under specific circumstances is it possible for the information to be made public.