Christopher Perkins, Athens, Ontario, has been named the winner of the 2018 Vegas Shoot’s Championship Compound Open division following the disqualification of Bob Eyler of Dundee, Michigan.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that Bob Eyler has tested positive for two prohibited substances at the 2018 Vegas Shoot, February 11, and has been given a two-year sanction for his violation. Eyler’s two-year period of ineligibility began on September 28, 2018, the date his sanction was imposed. As a result of the doping violation, Eyler’s results obtained on and subsequent to February 11, 2018 have been disqualified including The Vegas Shoot and the NFAA Indoor National Championships. Eyler must forfeit any medals, points, or prize money.
“It is important that all archers are competing on an even playing field, especially as the level of prize money continues to grow. This process has been a good learning experience for us as an industry and our goal is to introduce doping control at all professional archery events in the near future,” explained Bruce Cull, The Vegas Shoot President.
The Vegas Shoot, the largest indoor archery event of the year, attracts over 3,500 archers from around the World. The shoot off for the Championship Compound Open title is the culmination of the 3-day event and features a sudden-death shoot down for the $52,000 grand prize. Archers earn a guaranteed spot in the shoot off by shooting a perfect 900 score over three days of competition.
One additional archer earns a spot in the shoot off by winning the title of “Lucky Dog”. The lucky dog is the one 899 shooter that wins the opportunity to compete against the perfect 900 shooters. The lucky dog is determined in an arrow-by-arrow shoot down with all 899 shooters participating. The lucky dog can win the shoot off to claim the Vegas title or will be placed back into regular ranking at the top of the 899’s.
The 2018 Championship Compound Open shoot off came down to a face-off between Eyler and “Lucky Dog” Perkins. Eyler defeated Perkins, putting Perkins in ninth place at the bottom of the eight other shoot off participants. As a result of Eyler’s disqualification, Perkins will jump from ninth place to first and will claim the $52,000 prize and the coveted Vegas title. Perkins is the second lucky dog to take the Vegas title, Sergio Pagni was the first in 2016.
“Although we can’t go back and give Chris Perkins that winning moment in front of the roaring shoot-off crowd, we hope that the archery community will help in congratulating him on the incredible achievement of his first Vegas title,” encouraged Cull. "There will also be a special recognition for him at the 2019 Vegas Shoot."
View full USADA news release here.
Click here to view more information on The Vegas Shoot’s anti-doping policy or to reference anti-doping information and resources.