INLSA
Another Comrades top-10 finisher has tested positive for heightened levels of testosterone and will be charged with doping.
The seventh-place finisher in this year’s Comrades Marathon, Lephetesang Adoro, of Leotho, has tested positive for heightened levels of testosterone and will be charged with doping.
This comes on the back of the positive drug test of winner Ludwick Mamabolo, whose A and B sample showed he had taken the banned substance methylhexaneamine.
Mambolo faces a possible two-year ban from competitive running and being stripped of his Comrades title if guilty.
The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport revealed yesterday that Adoro’s sample was sent to Germany for further testing in June, as heightened levels of the male hormone were initially detected, after the race.
To determine if the testosterone levels were natural or artificially induced, the sample was sent to a World Anti-Doping Agency-approved laboratory in Cologne where a high concentration of testosterone was detected, as well as the banned corticosteroid, prednisone.
Khalid Galant, the institute’s CEO, said that, “as per the protocol for testosterone cases, we have to rule out endogenous production.
“The investigation has revealed the result was due to an anti-doping rule violation.”
The runner now has the choice to have his B-sample tested to confirm the initial result; but it would be at his own expense. The relevant sports bodies in Lesotho have been contacted and have been informed of the charges.
Johan van Staden, race director of the Comrades, said that as was the case with Mamabolo, no prize money or medal had been given to Adoro.
“He has not received anything as yet,” said Van Staden, adding that they waited for an official notice stating that the athlete was clear of any rule infringements before awarding any prizes.
Mamabolo is preparing for his hearing before an independent tribunal where he will plead his case.
