Nia Williams for the USA 7s Eagles /// Photo courtesy USA Rugby (Martin Seras Lima)
On June 13, 2016, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced that USA Women’s 7s Eagle Nia Williams had tested positive for banned substances twice in 2015 and had begun serving her four-year sanction. The Eastern Illinois product came to the Olympic Training Center (OTC) after a vibrant career with teams like Life West, the Collegiate All-Americans and San Diego Surfers, with whom she won MVP of the 2014 club 7s national championship.
“While we are disappointed that a former athlete tested positive for a prohibited substance, this is an important lesson for all athletes that taking dietary supplements can be risky,” wrote Nick Sero, USA Rugby Digital and Communications Manager. “Athletes should make every effort to ensure that their supplements do not contain prohibited substances. We fully support both USADA and World Rugby’s anti-doping efforts.”
Although Sero couldn’t confirm whether this was the first doping incident for USA Rugby since it was established in 1975, he did say that, “This is definitely a first for the 7s program and anyone who’s been on the Olympic pathway.”
According to Sero, former USA Women’s 7s coach Jules McCoy brought Nia Williams to the OTC in early November 2015. Per procedure, the 22-year-old submitted to a drug screening and tested positive for metabolites of the prohibited anabolic agents nandrolone (or its precursors) and drostanolone (read the detailed press release). The USADA, which is responsible for the testing and results management, did not immediately inform USA Rugby of the outcome.
“The USADA is its own entity, and they have no obligation to report to us,” Sero explained. “In fact, we report to them.”
That delay allowed Williams to be selected for December’s Dubai 7s, where she earned her first 7s caps and scored her first Eagle tries. She also took an in-competition drug test, which produced the same results from a month prior. That’s when the USADA informed USA Rugby of Williams’ test results, and she was immediately released from the OTC. Sero also indicated that there was no connection between Williams’ and McCoy’s dismissals.
So why did Williams’ situation remain confidential until now?
“It’s a really long, drawn-out process where USADA does their due diligence, and Nia has time to consider appealing the ruling,” Sero wrote. “We couldn’t report anything on our end until USADA did their thing.”
“She took every last second to make her decision, speak to her people and get representation,” Sero added. “Ultimately she decided to not appeal and took the punishment.”
The punishment was delivered in the form of a four-year sanction beginning Dec. 7, 2015. It includes the forfeiture of any medals or points earned since Nov. 5, the date of the first failed drug test, and it is still unclear whether the USA Women’s 7s results from Dubai will be affected.
Even though the ban is a reflection of one person’s actions, Sero is concerned about the potential shift in perception of those still training toward Olympic selection.
“Make sure you’re checking out the anti-doping guidelines, because your prescriptions and dietary supplements – your acne cream – could contain substances on the no-list,” Sero reiterated. “Teams make their players aware, but it’s up to the athletes to monitor themselves, whether it’s rugby 7s or the NFL.”
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