Recognition of sanctions: Robert Knight of New Zealand

Robert Knight has been suspended by the New Zealand Sports Tribunal under clean sport rules.

The athlete was found in violation of the Anti-Doping Rules of Drug Free Sport New Zealand after testing positive on 10 November 2023 for the prohibited substance metoprolol, which belongs to the beta blockers class of the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list.

Metoprolol is commonly used to treat high blood pressure and is always banned in archery. The athlete’s defence was that he had used the substance on the advice of his doctor.

Drug Free Sport New Zealand, the national anti-doping organisation, acknowledged that there was no intention to cheat but emphasised the responsibility of athletes to check the banned list.

The sanctions imposed are as follows:

• Disqualification of all prizes, points and medals obtained since 10 November 2023.
• A two-year suspension from 10 November 2023 until 9 November 2025.

For more information on World Archery’s clean sport regulations, read our beginner’s guide to anti-doping in archery.