ADHD drug 'caused rugby player's ban'

A rugby league player handed a drugs ban from the sport has complained to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) that they did not make clear he only tested positive due to prescribed ADHD medication.

Tom Curwen, who plays for Workington Town, received an 18-month ban after he was found to have traces of amphetamine in his system.

UKAD published its decision to ban him last week, but declined to comment on Mr Curwen's complaint.

While the report acknowledged Mr Curwen told them the drug was present due to ADHD medication, he said they failed to make it clear it was prescribed.

In a statement published on his social media, which was shared by the club, he said the process has caused distress to him and his family.

Mr Curwen told the BBC he wanted to put the issue behind him and declined to offer any further comment beyond what he posted.

The online statement said he was unaware the medication he was prescribed contained amphetamines.

It said: “I knew that this must have been my medication (although I wasn’t aware it contained amphetamine) so I thought that it would all be sorted as soon as I sent them evidence of needing to take it from my GP and psychiatrist.”

Documents from an independent National Anti-Doping Panel hearing say Mr Curwen should have applied for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) before starting the treatment.

However, he said he was unaware of the requirement and attempted to apply retrospectively.

His request was turned down due to evidence that Mr Curwen had attended anti-doping training in 2017 and 2021 stating the requirement, before his ADHD diagnosis in 2022.

In evidence heard by the panel, Mr Curwen said at the time he was tired, run-down and depressed.

With his ADHD still undiagnosed, he was also forgetful and not paying attention.

The panel heard Mr Curwen’s twin daughters were born prematurely in October 2020 and he became “increasingly unable to cope” with daily life.

With the new-borns needing to be fed every 90 minutes and the family not having any childcare support, he was getting very little sleep.

Although he recognised he should have applied for the TUE, Mr Curwen said he’d made a genuine mistake.

His statement said: “It’s not like I cheated as they have made clear - it’s for not following process.

“I didn’t think for one-minute a prescribed medication that calms me down would require an exemption.”

Mr Curwen had been provisionally suspended in April of last year, with his ban expire in October.

His club Workington Town said, while they supported UKAD’s work, they were disappointed with the ban.

They added: “We would urge any rugby league player taking medication for ADHD to be mindful of the need for exemption.”

UKAD declined to comment.

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