The World Surf League (WSL) that Brazilian surfer Raoni Monteiro has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended until August 12, 2016.
Monteiro, an enduring fixture in professional surfing and the first South American male to win the O’Neil World Cup of Surfing, tested positive during the December 2014 Pipe Masters. It took several months for the WSL to analyze the results and determine his punishment. He is the first pro surfer to test positive for PEDs since Neco Padaratz in 2005.
Monteiro said his use was unintentional and prescribed by a physician. “I made an honest mistake, but there are rules to follow and I broke them,” Monteiro . “I am looking forward to working hard with the time out of competition, getting back to my best, and competing again next year.”