St Kilda small forward Ahmed Saad is under AFL investigation after returning a positive test result to an alleged banned substance.
Saad faces a ban of up to two years if charged and found guilty, but took the substance unintentionally according to his club.
“Ahmed is surprised and extremely disappointed to find himself in this position, after returning a positive sample to a substance alleged to be on the prohibited list in the AFL Anti-Doping Code,” said St Kilda in statement released Wednesday.
“Further tests will be conducted on the substance in the near future.
“The product suspected is permitted for use out of competition but is not allowed to be used in competition.
“The club is bound by confidentiality under the AFL anti-doping code and as a consequence cannot make further comment at this time.”
Saad has not played for St Kilda’s senior team in three weeks, against Fremantle in Round 15, and played last weekend for VFL side Sandringham.
If charged, the 22-year-old would face an AFL Tribunal hearing.
Just two players have received suspensions for using banned substances. Richmond player Justin Charles copped a 16-week ban in 1997 for a positive test to an anabolic steroid and Hawthorn’s Travis Tuck was suspended for 12 weeks in 2010 for a third strike illicit substance violation.
Saad may face a similar situation to that of VFL player Matt Clark who was suspended for two years after consuming the banned substance Dimethylamylamin in an energy drink after a game in 2011.
Clark’s original ban was for nine months, but an appeal from the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority saw the suspension increased to the maximum of two years.
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