Wales hurdler Williams ‘devastated’ by doping charge

Saturday, 26 July 2014 05:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

GLASGOW (Reuters): Welsh 400m hurdler Rhys Williams is out of the Commonwealth Games after being charged with an anti-doping violation, UK Anti-Doping said on Friday. Williams, 30, who won gold at the 2012 European Championships and bronze at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010, and was co-captain of the Wales squad In Glasgow, said he was “utterly devastated” at the news. “UK Anti-Doping can confirm the provisional suspension of athlete Rhys Williams after being charged with committing an anti-doping rule violation under the IAAF Anti-Doping Rules,” UKAD chief executive Andy Parkinson said in a statement in response to an announcement by Team Wales. “The athlete has the opportunity to respond to the charges against him, and to have those charges determined at a full hearing

before the National Anti-Doping Panel. “UK Anti-Doping will not be making any further comment.” Williams, the son of former Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby winger JJ Williams, failed an in-competition test at the Glasgow Grand Prix event on July 11 and has been given a mandatory provisional suspension from all competition. He said he had not knowingly taken a banned substance. “I am utterly devastated about the news of this anti-doping rule violation, which has come as a great shock to me,” Williams said in a statement. “From the outset, I would strongly like to state that I have not knowingly taken any banned substance. “As a professional athlete, I have always supported and have been an advocate of clean sport.” Williams said he would fully co-operate with UKAD. “To be named Co-Team Captain for the Welsh Athletics Team was a great honour and I am distraught that I won’t be able to fulfil this role and join them as part of Team Wales. Welsh 800m runner Gareth Warburton was provisionally suspended this month for an anti-doping violation, ruling him out of the Games. Welsh Olympic silver medal-winning boxer Fred Evans had his accreditation refused after an investigation by the Home Office and Games officials.