Shock as Kenyan long-distance runner is caught doping at Tychy Half Marathon

It was a shocking incident as Alex Lagat received a positive result from the anti-doping control carried out at the finish line of the Tychy Half Marathon, which took place on September 3, 2023.

As reported by Bieganie.pl, Lagat finished second in the race, which will now be annulled due to his positive test results. Interestingly, the competitor travelled around Europe throughout September, also taking part in several races in Poland.

This year's edition of the Tychy Half Marathon was part of the Silesian Anti-Doping Initiative program, thanks to which anti-doping checks were carried out at the finish line of the first two women and the first two men.

The positive result of one of the competitors was confirmed by the Polish Anti-Doping Agency. In a statement, they said: “Triamcinolone, a glucocorticosteroid, was detected in one of the tested participants.

It is a prohibited substance during competitions for licensed professional competitors at national and international levels.

It is also a drug used for therapeutic purposes. If it was a professional player, he should apply for a retroactive TUE (i.e. a document allowing the use of agents in specific doses for therapeutic purposes).”

Lagat was caught using triamcinolone, the same drug for which Diana Kipyokei (winner of the Boston Marathon 2021) was disqualified for 6 years.

Interestingly, Alex Lagat, after finishing the Tychy Half Marathon, during which he had a positive anti-doping test, started a tour around Europe.

He took part in races in Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, among others.

Of course, the organizers had no idea about the positive result of the anti-doping test, often even inviting the competitor to the race.