Comrades champ denies guilt - report

SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 03, Ludwick Mamabolo celebrates his win during the 2012 Comrades Marathon on June 03, 2012 in South Africa. The 2012 Comrades Marathon is starting at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and finishing at the Sahara Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. Photo by Anesh Debiky / Gallo Images

SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 03, Ludwick Mamabolo celebrates his win during the 2012 Comrades Marathon on June 03, 2012 in South Africa. The 2012 Comrades Marathon is starting at the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg and finishing at the Sahara Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. Photo by Anesh Debiky / Gallo Images

Published Jun 20, 2012

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Under-fire Comrades winner Ludwick Mamabolo has denied using a banned substance to win the ultra-marathon, according to a report on Wednesday.

“I didn't take any banned substances,” Mamabolo told the Sowetan newspaper.

“The stuff that I use is what I have normally used throughout the years I have been running Comrades.

“I am confident that I will be found not guilty,” said Mamabolo.

If found guilty, he could lose his title and R300 000 prize money.

Mamabolo, who won the 89km race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban on June 3, tested positive for methylhexaneamine, the SA Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Sowetan quoted SAIDS CEO Khalid Galant as saying it was possible that the substance could have been contained in an energy drink.

“Methylhexaneamine has been one of those ubiquitous substances that some athletes have been testing positive for over the last two years. It is starting to become (prevalent) in sports supplements and certain energy drinks,” Galant said. - Sapa

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