Ethiopian Sisay Disqualified From NYC Marathon For Doping

Ezkyas Sisay (left) after the 2011 Honolulu Marathon with Athlete Misiker Mekonnin Demissie

NEW YORK — The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the New York Road Runners announced today that the Ethiopian marathon runner Ezkyas Sisay had been disqualified from the ING New York City Marathon last November for doping. Sisay, 23, who finished ninth in the race in his marathon debut in 2:11:04, was found guilty of using synthetic erythropoietin, or EPO, and has accepted a two-year suspension.

“Sisay’s two-year period of ineligibility, began on November 6, 2011, the date the doping offense occurred.” read a statement from USADA released to the media today. “As a result of the violation, Sisay has been disqualified from all competitive results achieved on and subsequent to November 6, 2011, including forfeiture of any medals, points, and prizes.”

The New York Road Runners confirmed through a statement today that Sisay had not received any prize money –payments are always withheld when a doping case is being resolved– and that American Ed Moran (2:11:47) and Swiss Viktor Röthlin (2:12:26) would be promoted to ninth and tenth place, respectively. Both men will receive adjustments in their prize money to reflect their higher placings. All other male finishers in the race will be promoted by one position.

“NYRR fully supports today’s two-year suspension of Ezkyas Sisay of Ethiopia for his anti-doping violation after testing positive at last year’s ING New York City Marathon, where he had finished in ninth place,” a New York Road Runners spokesman said through a written statement. “NYRR has always been a staunch supporter of drug and EPO testing at its events. Sisay will be immediately removed from all official results of the Marathon.”

Sisay –who can be easily spotted during races with his long dreadlocks–was also disqualified from two races he won last January: the Carlsbad Half-Marathon in California (1st place, 1:04:43), and the Mountain’s T’s Invitational 3000m in Flagstaff, Ariz. (1st place, 8:18.60). At the Carlsbad race he won $1500 in prize money which he is required to return.

The ING New York City Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label race and part of the World Marathon Majors series.  Drug testing is required at all IAAF Gold Label races which, when coupled with regular out-of-competition testing, helps reinforce the the global effort to stop doping.

“The United States is a key country for the IAAF not only because of the quality of its national elite athletes but also because it hosts major athletics events and attracts international athletes from all over the world,” said Dr. Gabriel Dollé, Director of the IAAF Medical and Anti-Doping Department. “It is therefore crucial for the IAAF to be able to rely on an efficient and innovative anti-doping agency such as USADA, committed to eradicate doping on its territory. This case illustrates our joint efforts towards this common objective.”
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