Cyclist Karl Murray has been banned from the sport for eight years after testing positive for a banned substance for a second time.
Murray tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the Tour of Northland in March last year.
A sports tribunal hearing in October found that Murray had committed an anti-doping rule violation but the Drug Free Sport New Zealand sought an adjournment, until the Court of Arbitration for Sport had ruled on its appeal concerning a potential breach of an earlier ban.
Murray had been banned for two years by the New Caledonia Anti-Doping Commission in 2014, following a positive test while competing in an event there in 2013.
Karl Murray competing in the Tour of Southland in 2009. Photo: Photosport
That ban was later recognised by cycling's world governing body the UCI which which enabled it to be recognised in New Zealand.
CAS found that while banned, Mr Murray coached athletes, which is a prohibited activity.
The Sports Tribunal had previously dismissed the case against Murray when DFSNZ first brought the case in 2016, prompting its appeal to the CAS.
CAS upheld the initial ban by DFSNZ's appeal and as a result Murray's two-year ban for an anti-doping rule violation was restarted in December last year.
As the Tour of Northland violation constituted Murray's second violation and the tribunal imposed the mandatory period of eight years' ineligibility backdated to commence May 2017.
Murray's track record of positive tests and coaching while banned shows an arrogant disregard for clean sport and his competitors said Drug Free Sport chief executive Nick Paterson.
DFSNZ chief executive Nick Paterson Photo: Supplied: DFSNZ
"The NZ Sports Anti-Doping Rules are there to protect honest athletes and Mr Murray's appalling track record speaks for itself.
"This eight-year ban for multiple violations casts a shadow over the thousands of clean Kiwi cyclists who compete every year and in the spirit of sport.
"We owe it to clean athletes to bring any drugs cheats to account. We must continue to fight to protect the right of every athlete to compete in clean sport, on a level playing field, where athletic prowess is the key determinant of the winner."
