Switzerland: The Swiss Sports Tribunal suspends floorball player
By Dr Lucien Valloni, Managing Partner, Valloni Attorneys at Law, Zurich, Switzerland
It was announced on 21 March 2025 that the Swiss Sports Tribunal (TSS) has suspended for one year a Swiss floorball player for possession of the prohibited substance RAD140 (SARM). Floorball is a simplified form of hockey and is very popular in Switzerland, being the second-biggest sport after association football.
The offence came to light during a postal inspection, in which a package containing 180 capsules of RAD140 (SARM), addressed to a Swiss floorball player, was seized by the Swiss Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection and forwarded to Swiss Sport Integrity.
In accordance with the provisions of the Sports Promotion Act (SPA), Swiss Sport Integrity ordered the destruction of the product as part of an administrative legal procedure.
The floorball player was subsequently informed that possession and attempted use of the prohibited substance RAD140 constitutes a potential violation of the Swiss Olympic Doping Statute.
In the proceedings before the TSS, the amateur player admitted ordering the prohibited substance, but proved, to the satisfaction of the TSS, that he had acted without serious negligence when placing the order.
The TSS imposed a one-year suspension on him for possession of a doping substance and ordered him to pay 500 Swiss francs (around €525) in court costs.
The interesting point about this particular case is that doping offences also apply to amateur sportspersons!
Dr Lucien Valloni may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
