By David di Somma
New Zealand cyclist Adam Stewart has been banned for two years after admitting "anti doping" offences.
The ban means he's out of next months commonwealth games in New Delhi and will miss the London Olympics in 2012.
“Adam's expressed his remorse and said it was really stupid and he wasn't even sure why he did it,” says BikeNZ chief executive Kieran Turner.
There were two instances, in 2009 he went online and ordered and received one vial of testosterone booster "hcg", but got rid of it without using it. Then in May this year he ordered six pre-filled syringes of the performance enhancing drug "epo".
They were sent to his own P.O. box number in Christchurch, only to be intercepted by customs. Drugfree Sport New Zealand was then brought in and Stewart was interviewed.
The 23 year old was not fronting the media today though he did issue a statement through his lawyer.
"I have made a huge mistake and I realise that, even though I have never taken any performance enhancing drugs, I have still done something terribly wrong.”
He also wanted to apologise to team-mates, friends and family
“I am terribly embarrassed at the decisions I made and this is something that I will have to live with forever."
“He did admit his actions, that he had imported. He said he hasn't used and he's passed a drugs test, so that does seem the case,” says Turner.
The penalty means Stewart will miss the up-coming Delhi Commonwealth Games and the London Olympics. He was one of five riders vying for three places in the men's sprint team. It's too early to say if and who will be his replacement.
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