It was huge news in April when elite cyclist, Brandon Cattouse tested positive for a banned substance, named EPO. That's the stuff that Lance Armstrong was using, and Brandon is one of Belize's top cyclists, so it was really a stunner.
But, tonight, that finding has been annulled - and Brandon has been freed from doping allegations.
The Anti-Doping Tribunal of the Regional Anti-Doping Organization of Central America today issued a judgement, saying, quote, that Mr. Brandon Cattouse, quote "must be cleared of any responsibility regarding the urine sample collected on the 11th of February 2018 because it has been stored in a manner that does not protect its integrity…"
The 17 page decision by a Spanish arbitrator notes that the Executive Director of the National Anti Doping Organization, Dr. Michael Pitts - who is the only operational staff for NADO - took the test kit and kept it in his refrigerator at home. The arbitrator was not satisfied that the integrity of the ?s sample was protected under these circumstances.
With that, Brandon Cattouse is completely cleared and free to race again without any taint of wrongdoing. The National Road Championship race in June was delayed because of the legal dispute over this test.
Cattouse was represented by attorney Hector Guerra, while Darrell Bradley represented NADO.
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