Hearing for bodybuilder over BZP use

A New Zealand bodybuilder will front up at a Sports Disputes Tribunal hearing next week after testing positive for Benzylpiperazine, commonly referred to as BZP.

The anti-doping violation was discovered during an in-competition testing by the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency at an event earlier this year.

It was revealed in July that the bodybuilder had become the first New Zealand athlete to test positive to BZP which is the active ingredient in "herbal highs", sold legally under names such as "Blast", "Frenzy" and "Rapture".

Athletes are prohibited from using BZP, which mimics the effects of illegal drugs amphetamine and ecstasy, because it has performance-enhancing potential.

The hearing will be held in Auckland on November 23.

- NZPA