June 08, 2017 (Ottawa, ON) – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) announced today that Gérard-Louis Robert, a cycling athlete, received a sanction of eight years for a second anti-doping rule violation. The athlete’s urine sample, collected during in-competition doping control on August 27, 2016, revealed the presence of testosterone.

In response to the CCES’ notification of the adverse analytical finding, Mr. Robert requested a hearing to determine the violation and whether the sanction period should be eliminated or reduced. On March 22, 2017, Arbitrator Patrice Brunet confirmed the violation and imposed a sanction of four years ineligibility from sport, which was subsequently appealed.

During the appeal, the Union Cycliste Internationale provided information to the CCES confirming that the athlete had a previous anti-doping rule violation from 2009. As a result, the CCES amended its original notification and, in accordance with Rule 10.7.1 of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP), proposed an eight-year period of ineligibility for the second anti-doping rule violation. In response, Mr. Robert abandoned the appeal and accepted the sanction. Since he agreed to a voluntary provisional suspension on October 11, 2016, his sanction will conclude October 10, 2024. The athlete, who resides in Montreal, Quebec, is ineligible to participate in any capacity with any sport signatory to the CADP, including training with teammates.

In compliance with rule 7.10 of the CADP, a copy of the CCES’ file outcome summary can be found at www.cces.ca/sanctionreg. A copy of the full decision can be found at www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca.

The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization with a responsibility to administer the CADP. Under the CADP rules, the CCES announces publicly every anti-doping rule violation. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. We are committed to working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.