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Comrades doping scandal sees 2 top runners suspended

Durban - Two men who finished in the top 10 of the 2015 Comrades Marathon have been suspended for two years in a fresh doping scandal.

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) has announced that Joseph Mphuthi and Sandile Ngunuza - who claimed the 6th and 9th positions respectively - were suspended by the national drug testing authority, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS).

CMA Race Director Rowyn James said that their suspension would take immediate effect.

"Accordingly, they will not be allowed to participate in the Comrades Marathon until completion of their suspensions," he said in a statement.

This ruling comes in the wake of a powerful warning to potential cheats recently issued by the CMA.

A cautionary notice was issued to all runners, saying that the issue of cheating would be vigorously addressed.

"Race officials, marshals, volunteers and nearly twenty thousand runners will all be encouraged to be on the lookout to expose any cheats at this year’s Comrades Marathon."

"The CMA has further advised that it, together with KZNA, reserve the right to request that the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport implements blood tests as opposed to urine tests, where deemed necessary," the statement read. 

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