Former St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers striker Brandon Miele has been handed a two-year ban. The failure to submit an adequate sample to anti-doping officers is what landed the striker’s faith to such disciplinary action.
Miele joined St Pat’s ahead of the 2019 season, After departing Richmond Park in June after his initial suspension.The 25-year-old was tested after St. Pats’ 2-1 League of Ireland win over Sligo Rovers in April. According to the striker, he struggled to provide a sample after the match due to the fact he already urinated twice before the game.
After much commotion and insisting, Miele stated that his daughter had fallen and hit her head while he was trying to provide a sample, and he became increasingly concern about her health. After two hours of trying to provide a full sample, the Dubliner said he needed to leave the testing centre so that he could be with his daughter “who has a history of health problems.”
Responding to the outcome of the saga, through the PFAI, Miele released a statement saying the sanction was “very severe”. Miele said he will not appeal the ban, which started on 9 September 2019.
Sport Ireland and Football Association of Ireland said that Miele has committed a violation of Article 2.3 of the Irish anti-doping rules- “…without compelling justification, refusing or failing to submit to Sample collection after notification as authorised under these Rules or other anti-doping rules.”
It was also alleged that Miele had committed an alleged anti-doping rule violation under Article 2.5 – “tampering or attempted tampering with any part of Doping Control” – however this was not proven by the panel.
