NADO’s Urine Sample – A Gross Departure from International Standards

Attorney Hector Guerra outlines the personal circumstances and experiences that Cattouse faced in light of the suspension.  According to Guerra, the steps that were taken by the National Anti Doping Organization’s representative in Belize did not comply with established international standards.

Hector Guerra

Hector Guerra, Attorney for Brandon Cattouse

“The background that surrounds the allegations are that in or about February of this year, my client Mr. Brandon Cattouse participated in the Valentine’s Classic Tour.  It was a three-day tour.  He emerged in second place.  He was then asked to give urine samples for doping with which he fully complied, after which in or about April, the results for those urine samples that were given were returned purportedly adverse.  My client’s position has always been and remains that he has never took any performance-enhancement drugs and that he is in fact free from any of those allegations.  After the results came out, my client then hired our services and retained our services.  We then agreed to partake in arbitration proceedings.  NADO Belize has delegated results management to what is called the Regional Anti-Doping Organization of Central America, for short, RADO CAM.  RADO Cam then assigned Dr. Alberto Yelmo Bravo. After he was assigned, NADO Belize and my client then were allowed to put forth their allegations and to submit evidence in support of those allegations.  The submissions and the evidence in support was submitted.  After having reviewed all the evidence and all the circumstances along with the submissions made by both parties, Dr. Yelmo found that in fact, the way NADO Belize handled my client’s case was in gross departure from the international standards required from national anti-doping organizations across the world.”