Twenty years ago, according to Wikipedia, Nitro Noriyuki Haga improved his performance to challenge for the title in 2000. However, his season was disrupted when he was tested positive for a banned substance. Haga was tested positive for the substance Ephedrine after the race in South Africa, though it was later learned that Ephedrine occurs naturally in the herbs used in the Ma Huang supplement that he’d taken during the off-season. He initially received a one-month ban beginning on June 5 and had his points from both South African races deducted.[5] However, after a series of appeals the points from Race 1 in South Africa were reinstated and the ban was delayed and reduced to a 2-week ban, resulting in Haga missing the final round at Brands Hatch, Great Britain. With Haga losing 25 points and sitting out a 2-race weekend, Colin Edwards comfortably won the 2000 championship. Ouch.

Alpinestars Press Release:

MAGNY-COURS, FRANCE ? The 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship at the iconic Circuit of Nevers Magny-Cours sees Alpinestars launch the ?Haga 20? Supertech R Race Replica Boots in recognition of one of WSBK?s fastest and most spectacular riders, Noriyuki ?Nitro Nori? Haga.
The Japanese ?Samurai of Slide? enjoyed a successful WSBK career, with Noriyuki finishing runner-up in the World Championship on three different occasions and third in the overall standings in an additional four seasons. Noriyuki competed in 312 races in WSBK througho...