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Gert Thys Doping Case, Suspension Finally Over
Posted December 13th, 2008 at 12:02 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Drugs In Sports
The Gert Thys drug case, which has been dragging on since 2006, has finally come to an end with the announcement by Athletics South Africa (ASA) on December 11 that Thys’s suspension ended on that day after two years and 7½ months. Thys had tested positive for the prohibited substance Norandrosterone at the Seoul International Marathon on March 12, 2006, which he won in 2:10:40, and the case had been characterized by numerous postponements of a hearing and legal wranglings.
In a media release ASA announced that a tribunal chaired by Raymond Hack met on December 11 and “unanimously found that Mr. Gert Thys committed a doping violation and declared Mr Thys ineligible to participate in athletics from 25th April 2006 to the 11th December 2008 (date of tribunal). In terms of the decision Mr Gert Thys will forfeit all income, prizes and benefits derived from his participation in the Seoul Marathon on the 17th [sic] March 2006.”
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Russians & South Africans poised to dominate Comrades Marathon
Posted June 13th, 2007 at 10:13 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Marathons
South African men have won the last three “down” Comrades Marathons, but it seems likely that a Russian will be first across the line this Sunday, June 17, when the 82nd running of the world’s largest ultramarathon takes place between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The distance of the race this year is 89.3 km.
The ultramarathon will be run on a Sunday for the first time in history. This unpopular decision, widely seen in the running community as the result of the Comrades Marathon Association bowing under political pressure from governing body Athletics South Africa, has led to a decrease of about 15 percent in entries. The last few years the race was held on Youth Day (June 16), a highly politicized public holiday in post-apartheid South Africa.
Foreign women have dominated the Comrades in recent years, with the last local victory coming in 1998 when Rae Bisschoff won. Most pundits expect that this year will be no different.
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Sepeng cleared to return to competition
Posted May 16th, 2007 at 9:34 AM by Bob Ramsak
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Drugs In Sports
Hezekiel Sepeng, the South African record holder over 800 metres and silver medalist at the Atlanta Olympics and the 1999 World Championships, has been reinstated by Athletics South Africa (ASA). Sepeng had tested positive for the prohibited substance Norandrosterone in February, 2005.
In a statement released yesterday, ASA said Sepeng has been cleared and can compete with immediate effect.
Sepeng was tested out of competition on February 21, 2005, and was found guilty by an ASA tribunal. He was suspended for two years on May 11, 2005.
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Who was America's most-valuable male runner in 2008?
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The Final Sprint
On January 8, 2009
Joe said:
Hey Nick, First of all I want to tell you what an inspiration you are to me. I am an "old timer" (just...