The New Zealand distance runner Zane Robertson has been banned from athletics for eight years after failing a drug test for erythropoietin (EPO) and providing false documentation. The 33-year-old athlete, who won bronze in the 5,000-meter race at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was tested positive at the 2022 Great Manchester Run.
Robertson claimed that he was administered EPO in Kenya when he went there to get a COVID-19 vaccination. However, the anti-doping agency of Kenya (Adak) provided a statement, which was presented by Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) as evidence in the hearing of the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand. The statement from Adak stated that Robertson “was not administered EPO at the facility” and that “he had not attended the facility on the alleged date”. It was also revealed that the two doctors who Robertson claimed had treated him were not employed at the facility.
Robertson claimed that he was trying to get a COVID-19 vaccine but instead was treated for COVID-19, which included the administration of EPO. However, the medical facility in Kenya did not support Robertson’s claim.
The eight-year ban is a significant blow to Robertson’s athletic career, as he was one of New Zealand’s leading distance runners. The ban will not only prevent him from participating in athletics for eight years, but it will also tarnish his reputation as an athlete.
This incident also highlights the importance of maintaining strict anti-doping policies in athletics. Cheating by using performance-enhancing drugs undermines the integrity of athletics, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and national anti-doping agencies have been working tirelessly to catch athletes who use such substances.