NEWS: SCOTLAND LOCK Scott MacLeod has been warned and reprimanded after testing positive for the drug Terbutaline - an asthma medication which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list.
However, asthmatic MacLeod has been given the go-ahead by an independent judicial committee to continue playing and has avoided a possible one-year ban.
The 28-year-old Llanelli Scarlets player had not gained an exemption to use his medication, which the Scottish Rugby Union have put down to an oversight by MacLeod.
MacLeod said: "I'm not a cheat and I'm pleased that the panel accepted that I'd used Terbutaline inadvertently and that there had been no intention to enhance sports performance."
A statement from the Scottish Rugby Union confirmed: "Asthmatic Scotland lock Scott MacLeod has been cleared by an independent judicial committee to continue to play the game after he was found to have inadvertently taken a prohibited asthma medication without the required permission.
"MacLeod, the 16-times-capped Llanelli Scarlets forward, was tested by the national anti-doping organisation in Britain, as part of Scottish Rugby's no-notice doping control tests, at a Scotland training session last month.
"Analysis of his urine sample showed the presence of Terbutaline, a drug, taken through an inhaler, to treat asthma.
"Terbutaline is on the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited list unless, when administered by inhalation, a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) has been obtained in advance.
"MacLeod did not have a current valid TUE for this drug. He does have a current TUE for Salbutamol, another asthma medication .. . In the circumstances the player was administered the minimum sanction of a warning and a reprimand."
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