The Australian Sports Drug Agency has confirmed that dual Olympic kayak silver medallist Nathan Baggaley has returned a positive result for both stanozolol and methandienone in an out-of-competition test, conducted on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia on September 13.

The 29-year-old who just two weeks earlier won his won his third consecutive K1 500m world title, has waived his right to have the B sample tested and will answer to the charges at a hearing with SLSA and Canoeing Australia at a date yet to be set.

If found guilty he is likely to be suspended from competition for anywhere between one to four years, most likely two, however all previous results will stand as the test was out of competition.

Stanozolol is the man-made steroid famous for bringing Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson undone at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates said, “We are stunned and disappointed that someone of Nathan’s experience and stature would return a positive test.”

The fact the test was out of competition will not help Baggaley in terms of reducing the penalty as the SLSA policy is strong against performance enhancing substances.

If found guilty, he will more than likely lose Australian Olympic Committee funding earned from his performances at the world championships.

Baggaley was second in the K1 and K2 500m (with Clint Robinson) at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

The Gold Coast based paddler was scheduled to compete this weekend in Perth in the ICF canoe marathon world championships but was a sudden withdrawal earlier this week.

AOC