DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: MOSLEM BOXER REFUSES TO PEE IN A CUP, GETS A 2 YR SUSPENSION

Islamic faith no excuse for banned boxer

Brisbane boxer Omar Shaick has been suspended for two years after refusing to give a urine sample because of his religious beliefs.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) today announced the sanction after the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport found Shaick had violated anti-doping rules by refusing the test.

Shaick, a Muslim, was training in Brisbane ahead of the National Amateur Championships when he was approached for a random drug test by ASADA officials in June, 2006.

Shaick, then aged 18, refused on the grounds of his Islamic faith, which dictates that he cannot expose his genitals to strangers.

Shaick, who later went on to win the under-19 middleweight amateur championship, will be suspended from boxing until September 2008, backdated to when he last fought an official match.

"This decision reaffirms the long standing and strict obligation on athletes ... to provide urine samples on request, irrespective of personal belief," ASADA chairman Richard Ings said.

Shaick's trainer Chris McMullen said the result was not unexpected, and the now 20-year-old had made the decision to resume boxing once the sanction ends.

"Originally he was going to give it up, concentrating on his work and that, but he said that he wants to stay on and fight," he said.

"But obviously there's a lot of things we've got to figure out first."

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