22 March 2023 , 19:46
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Commonwealth bronze medallist Zane Robertson has been hit with an eight-year ban from competing after his claim Erythropoietin (EPO) entered his body via a vaccination against Covid-19 was rejected.
Robertson initially tested positive for the banned drug in May of last year when competing at the Great Manchester Run. The initial positive result left the New Zealand long distance runner facing a four-year ban.
The two-time Olympian pleaded his innocence though, claiming he was treated for Covid-19 via an injection at a facility in Kenya which contained EPO. In his defence, Robertson alleged that he had told doctors he was unable to receive any drug that was on the prohibited list.
This was soon exposed though, after the vice president of the Kenyan facility countered the claims. He told the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand that the athlete was, "not administered EPO at the facility, that he had not attended the facility on the alleged date… and the patient number on the notes was not Mr Robertson’s."
A 14-page report detailing Robertson's banning order read: "In light of the additional evidence collected and filed by Drug Free Sport New Zealand, Mr Robertson has chosen not to rely on the evidence he originally filed and no longer seeks to contest the sanction for the anti-doping rule violation."
Zane Robertson competed at two Olympic Games (Getty Images)His actions were also condemned by the chief executive and secretary-general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Nicki Nicol.
The CEO said: “His actions go against everything the New Zealand Team stands for.
"We condemn all forms of doping. Every athlete has the right to compete on an even playing field and Robertson’s actions have undermined the integrity of sport.”