Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Winner of 2010 London Marathon gets a drugs ban...

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Winner of 2010 London Marathon gets a drugs ban...

Today Tuesday the 29th of April 2014, the Russian Athletics Federation announced that Liliya Shobukhova has been handed a two-year ban for doping, with her results from October 9, 2009 to be annulled. This was as a result of having found abnormalities in her biological passport.

This means she is set to lose her 2010 London Marathon title, as well as Chicago Marathon titles from 2009, 2010 and 2011, with her ban backdated to January 24, 2013. It will run until January 23, 2015.

If the ban is confirmed following any appeal, her two World Marathon Major (WMM) series wins of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 would also be annulled. The WMM series comprises the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW Berlin, Bank of America Chicago and TCS New York City marathons. Just for the Major Series alone, she would have earned $1 million over the two years while for the 2010 London title alone, she would have won $55,000.

In a statement for the World Marathon Majors, a spokesman confirmed that any athlete found guilty of a doping offence is required to repay any prize or appearance money earned at WMM events including WMM series prize money. The statement continued..."WMM will continue to hold a stern line and supports all measures to ensure the integrity of the athletes competing in their races. Cheats need to understand that they are not welcome in our sport and that they will be caught.”

The 36-year-old Shobukhova's time of 2 hours, 18 minutes, 20 seconds in Chicago in 2011 made her the second-fastest women's marathon runner behind record holder Paula Radcliffe of Britain. In response to the news of the drugs ban, Paula Radcliffe put this on her Twitter account..."Lilya Shobukhova finally exposed as a drug cheat. Action needs to be taken to show cheating not acceptable. Monies won should be returned and rightful winners recognized."

If this sounds familiar, remember Tatyana Aryasova of Russia who won the Dublin Marathon in 2010, got €15,000 in prize money and then tested positive for a banned substance just a few months later.

Seriously...if someone is caught, is the prize money ever returned???

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting article.
If the prize money is not repaid, would there be an argument for holding the payment to winners until after a certain amount of time/number of tests has elapsed?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure she was tested many times so withholding prize money isn't the answer.you can't presume athletes are guilty until proved innocent.good news that she was caught.

Anonymous said...

if people on this forum believe that martin Fagan should be allowed to compete at international level should the above runner be allowed to compete after she serves her ban?

Aidan said...

Question, is the athlete who came second now entitled to the first place prize money? And third the second place and so on?
If the money doesn't come back from the DQ's athlete where does it come from?

Derek said...

Her ban is only up to Jan 2015. Thats only a few months away. She can take a couple of months off, 6 months training and come back fresh as a daisy. Injury has taken runners out for longer than this. It should be a lifetime ban.

Anonymous said...

Hi.I don't see what Martin Fagan has to do with this case.He admitted using EPO.Has served his ban.He is entitled to compete again if he wants.She has not admitted to doping I presume.Has been banned on a biological passport which indicates she was most likely doping.I personally believe it should be 4 years at least preferably life but the rules are the rules and she will be back no doubt

Anonymous said...

It seems simple to me , do not allow her to compete in any event again until she returns the prize-money won during her drug period !!