WAGGA mother Christine Zadel yesterday revealed the overwhelming regret she feels after being banned from bodybuilding competition for two years for using prohibited substances.
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Deeply remorseful for what she describes as "negligence", the champion bodybuilder admitted to the shame which she has been carrying since the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority released a report on November 9.
"Wagga is such a small town and people will gossip, but I have to try and move on," she said.
"I hope people understand that it was a simple mistake.
"It's so disappointing and it upsets me that I have this blemish on my career now, but it's done and there's nothing I can do about it.”
After testing positive for performance enhancers clenbuterol and glycerol during the International Natural Bodybuilding Association state titles in Sydney last year, Mrs Zadel has set about putting her life back together over the past 12 months.
Mrs Zadel believes the “simple mistake” has tarnished her reputation.
“To be honest, there are people out there that do it all the time and I was the unlucky one to get caught,” she said.
“But it’s to the credit of INBA that they crack down so hard on it.
“I can understand there will be a bit of a kerfuffle about it for the next few months but I’ll just have to ride the wave.
“I know the truth and that’s all that matters.”
Denying any knowledge she was using banned substances, Zadel claimed she had purchased a fat-burning product over the internet which contained the ingredient clenbuterol, while taking glycerol for hydrating purposes as part of her training regime.
ASADA classes clenbuterol as an anabolic agent that helps the body to strip fat and build muscle and is banned in Australia, the United States and some parts of Europe, while glycerol is regarded as a masking agent.
ASADA says unsupervised use of clenbuterol can worsen pre-existing heart conditions or hypertension, while glycerol is prohibited as a plasma expander which requires the ingestion of quantities far beyond those which are found in foodstuffs and toiletries.
Zadel admitted she had failed to check the products were legal within the regulations of the INBA, a mistake which has plagued her since.
“I was so upset when it happened and I felt in fairness to the other competitors I wouldn’t compete with the INBA any more,” she said. “It’s definitely a warning for everyone to check your products.
“They do have a website, I just didn’t check it.”
