Ethiopian runner banned

Colorado Springs - Ethiopian marathon runner Ezkyas Sisay has received a two-year doping ban after a positive drug test at the 2011 New York Marathon, the US Anti-Doping Agency announced on Thursday.

Sisay finished ninth in the race in two hours, 11 minutes and four seconds but was stripped of that result and all others since the November 6 event, which now marks the back-dated start of his two-year period of ineligibility for competitions.

The US Anti-Doping Agency, which handled sample collection at the event for the IAAF, said the 24-year-old African runner admitted using the banned substance synthetic erythropoietin (EPO) after testing positive for it.

"This case is a prime example of why cooperation between national anti-doping organizations and international federations is so important in protecting the rights of clean athletes and preserving the integrity of competition," US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive Travis T Tygart said.

Sisay was also stripped of his victory in last January's Carlsbad Half-Marathon in California.

"It's 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," said Gabriel Dolle, the IAAF medical director.

"This case illustrates our joint efforts towards this common objective."