Bodybuilder Roderick Waterman has tested positive for a range of prohibited substances and has been banned for two years. This was announced in a Press release by the National Anti-Doping Commission (NADC) late last night.Waterman, who is only in his second year of competition, returned positive results from an unannounced urine test conducted on April 24 during the staging of the Mr Bridgetown Bodybuilding Competition held at Combermere School.Waterman’s sample showed evidence of the anabolic steroids stanozolol, bolderone, clenbuterol, and mesterolone metabolite. He also had “a high testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) ratio of 18:6. The acceptable T/E ratio is 4 or below,” the release said in part.The two-year ban commenced on April 24 and Waterman will forfeit all “titles, medals, or financial rewards” as a result of his place in that competition and will not be allowed to participate “in any capacity” in any event sanctioned by the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (BABBFF).Waterman was second in this year’s competition, one place up from 2009, when he was also crowned Mr Novice. He showed improved form at this year’s Mr Bridgetown where he caught the eye of the judges and NATION senior reporter Mike King who wrote: “Waterman, 43, was much improved, parading the cleanest, sharpest muscle on stage. His razor-sharp hamstrings and tight abdominals would have impressed dozens of fans that included bodybuilding doyen Loftus Roach and former Caribbean champions Carmichael Bryan and Jerry Nicholls.”This is the second positive test this week by a Barbadian sportsman. On Monday, weightlifter Ivorn McKnee revealed that he had tested positive for stanozolol and was facing a ban of four years.ConcernedIn the wake of these tests, NADC chairman Dr Adrian Lorde said he was concerned about the prevalence of performance-enhancing drugs.“[I am also concerned] about the harmful effects that they may cause to one’s body, the effects on various organs – the liver, kidneys, heart in particular – and the reproductive system.”He said people would use the drugs regardless of their public education programmes, but the NADC would be stepping up those programmes, as well as the out-of-competition testing.“We have a mandate from the new Minister [of Sports Stephen Lashley] to undertake education programmes for the youth and across all sports. So we will start with the youth right up, and of course, increased out-of-competition testing will be part of the mandate of the NADC,” Lorde said.Despite the costs, which may start as low as $600 per test, Lorde said they had funds available for both the tests and the testing kits.
