A performance enhancing cocktail mixed with four different anabolic steroids has landed 47 year-old Irish amateur cyclist Dale Walker a four year ban, according to Sport Ireland Anti-Doping.

Walker tested positive for banned substances after winning the Irish National Championship 40+ age group category race in September 2019 in a field sprint.

Testing carried out by Sport Ireland Anti-Doping at the race revealed that Walker tested positive for four banned anabolic substances: Epioxandrolone, Oxandrolone, 18-noroxandrolone and Boldenone – a veterinarian grade anabolic steroid used to build muscle mass in thoroughbred race horses.

In his defense during the anti-doping hearing, Walker said he did not know of anyone that would ride a bike “that wouldn’t be taking some sort of supplements in their bottle” and he probably inadvertently ingested the banned substances through supplements he regularly used called “Tango,” “Total War” and “Big Noise.”

Sport Ireland Anti-Doping did not agree with Walker’s “Contaminated Supplement” defense theory and applied the concept of “strict liability,” where as an athlete Walker is solely liable for what he ingests.

Even though this was Walker’s first offence, he was handed the maximum four-year ban which begins 5 November 2019 and ends 5 November 2023, while also stripping him of the 2019 Irish National Championship title.

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