Cyclist Karl Murray handed eight-year ban for second doping offence

Cyclist Karl Murray has received an eight-year ban from all sport, imposed by the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand after he tested positive for clenbuterol at the Tour of Northland on 18 March 2017.  

The substantial sanction reflects the fact that this is Mr Murray’s second Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).  Mr Murray committed his first ADRV in New Caledonia in 2014, when he tested positive for nandrolone and testosterone, and was given a two-year ban from the Anti-Doping Commission of New Caledonia.  This ban was recognised in New Zealand in 2015, at which time Mr Murray had one year of the ban left to complete. 

This two-year ban was restarted in December 2017 after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) found that Mr Murray had been coaching athletes whilst banned, in breach of New Zealand’s Sports Anti-Doping Rules (SADR).

DFSNZ Chief Executive Nick Paterson says Mr Murray’s track record of positive tests and coaching while banned shows an arrogant disregard for clean sport, his competitors and the SADR.

“The NZ Sports Anti-Doping Rules are there to protect honest athletes and Mr Murray’s appalling track record speaks for itself. 

“This eight-year ban for multiple violations casts a shadow over the thousands of clean Kiwi cyclists who compete every year and in the spirit of sport.

“Despite having served a previous ban, Mr Murray has been found again to have taken a prohibited substance, in this instance clenbuterol, at the time he was competing against other athletes.  

“We owe it to clean athletes to bring any drugs cheats to account. We must continue to fight to protect the right of every athlete to compete in clean sport, on a level playing field, where athletic prowess is the key determinant of the winner.

“I would also like to acknowledge the work Cycling New Zealand undertakes to support clean sport, working in close partnership with Drug Free Sport New Zealand to make sure its members are informed and supported in complying with their anti-doping responsibilities.”

Following his positive test, Mr Murray was provisionally suspended from participating in sport on 11 May 2017.  Accordingly, the eight-year ban commences on that date and will run until 11 May 2025.   Mr Murray’s ban means he is prohibited from participating in all sport, including coaching athletes who are bound to the SADR.

Read the decision from the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand here.