Former Bristol lock Vui 'devastated' by doping ban

Former Bristol lock Vui 'devastated' by doping banImage source, ShutterstockImage caption, Chris Vui represented Samoa at the 2023 Rugby World CupByMatthew CresswellBBC Sport EnglandPublished44 minutes agoFormer Bristol Bears lock Chris Vui says he is "devastated" that the four-year ban he was issued with for a contested doping violation has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS].Vui, 33, tested positive in August 2023 for 19-norandrosterone, an indicator for the steroid nandrolone, before that year's Rugby World Cup, in which he represented Samoa.He was immediately suspended by World Rugby but has always denied knowingly using the banned substance.In a statement sent to BBC Sport, Vui said he hoped his "experience contributes to a broader discussion within sport about the operation of anti-doping processes"."Over the past three years, since being provisionally suspended during the World Cup, I have been fighting to prove my innocence, so I am devastated by this outcome," Vui's statement said."I want to make it clear I have never knowingly used, and would never knowingly use, a prohibited substance. It goes against everything I stand for as a person and as an athlete."The low level of the substance found in my test is consistent with contamination, and I therefore believe the most likely explanation is the positive test was caused by a contaminated supplement. Sadly, I could not prove this to a sufficient degree of certainty."This has been a deeply challenging and unexpected experience that has effectively put my life on hold. One of the hardest realities is, despite years of investigation and proceedings, I may never know for certain how this situation arose."For now, my focus is on returning to rugby next year and on what comes next as I continue to reflect on this chapter."Vui and his lawyers are unhappy about the way the process of testing his B sample [second sample] was...