Poppy seed defence facts for kids
The poppy seed defence is a commonly cited reason to avoid any sanction for failing a drug test. The defence asserts that a suspect's positive result was a result of the person having consumed poppy seeds prior to taking the test. It has been recognised in medical and legal fields as a valid defence.
Use of the defence
In 2011, a New Zealand triathlete avoided a doping ban after testing positive for opiates after having consumed poppy seeds before an event. In 2020, a woman in Alabama, United States lost custody of her newborn baby because doctors found traces of opiate in her urine. This was later attributed to poppy-seed bread she had eaten and the baby was returned.
The defence has also been recognised in equestrianism. In 2013, the racehorse Estimate, owned by Queen Elizabeth II, failed a drug test that was attributed to contaminated feed in the stables, which contained poppy seeds. The horse's trainer faced no sanction as a result of the poppy seed defence. Two years later, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports formally recognised the "poppy seed defence" for riders of horses found to have consumed feed contaminated with poppy seeds.
See also
In Spanish: Defensa de la semilla de amapola para niños
