Ethiopian marathon runner Sisay banned for doping
Ethiopian marathon runner Ezkyas Sisay has received a two-year doping
ban after a positive drug test at the 2011 New York Marathon, the US
Anti-Doping Agency announced on Thursday.
Sisay finished ninth in the race in two hours, 11 minutes and four
seconds but was stripped of that result and all others since the
November 6 event, which now marks the back-dated start of his two-year
period of ineligibility for competitions.
The US Anti-Doping Agency, which handled sample collection at the
event for the IAAF, said the 24-year-old African runner admitted using
the banned substance synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) after testing
positive for it.
"This case is a prime example of why cooperation between national
anti-doping organizations and international federations is so important
in protecting the rights of clean athletes and preserving the integrity
of competition," US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis T. Tygart
said.
Sisay was also stripped of his victory in last January's Carlsbad
Half-Marathon in California.
"It's crucial for the IAAF to be able to rely on an efficient and
innovative anti-doping agency, such as USADA, committed to eradicate
doping on its territory," said Gabriel Dolle, the IAAF medical director.
"This case illustrates our joint efforts towards this common
objective." AFP |