One of this year’s Comrades Marathon gold medallists in the men’s race has tested positive for a banned substance in his A sample, the SA Institute for Drug Free Sport (Saids) confirmed today.
Saids chief executive, Khalid Galant, said today that Sandile Ngunuza, 32, of the Nedbank Running Club in the Eastern Cape was under suspicion.
His race time was 5:57:08, placing ninth. Ngunuza was the first athlete from Port Elizabeth to win a gold medal in the Comrades professional era.
Two urine samples from top- placed athletes are tested – labelled A and B. The B-sample is a confirmation test to verify the result of the A-sample.
Galant said Ngunuza’s tested positive for stimulants methylhexaneamine and oxilofrine.
These substances, said Galant, were performance-enhancing and on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances.
According to sporting websites, methylhexaneamine is used as a fat metaboliser or “fat burner”, but was first created to be used as a nasal decongestant.
Oxilofrine is related to ephedrine, an asthma medication.
“Ngunuza has been notified and the B sample will now be analysed,” Galant said. He said a date for a hearing would be set in the next four to six weeks.
“The athlete has the option to accept the findings and plead guilty.”
If he chose to go ahead with the matter, the case would be heard before an independent tribunal.
“Until then he will be suspended and barred from participating in any race. The race organisers will decide, if he’s found guilty, what the consequences will be.”
Should he eventually be found guilty and lose his place, fellow Nedbank runner, the Russian Vasily Larkin, who came 11th, will move into the gold medals.
A report in the Daily Dispatch after the Comrades said the runner had earned R18 000 for his achievement plus incentives from his home club.
He told the newspaper at the time: “This year’s position was just a bonus to me. Winning a gold medal means everything to me because I have done the Two Oceans and the World Champs, but the Comrades it’s the only thing I have been trying for three years now.”
Doping tests are a standard procedure conducted by Saids on the top-positioned runners in all events. Runners found guilty of doping could forfeit their medals and prize money.
Nedbank Running Club manager, Nick Bester, said he would issue a statement later today.
Comrades Marathon Association race director, Rowyn James, said Comrades was governed by the findings of Saids and acted accordingly. “So please get further comment from them,” he said.
KZN Athletics chairman, Sello Mokoena, could not be reached. - Daily News