Comrades cheat disqualified - again

21 July 2010 - 12:28 By Sapa
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Sergio Moetsoneng, the third-placed finisher at this year's Comrades Marathon, has been disqualified after failing a doping test - 11 years after he was disqualified from the race for cheating.

Moetsoeng and his twin Arnold were banned for five years after running the 1999 edition in relay fashion.

They might have succeeded was it not for the fact they wore their watches on opposite arms - a minor detail which led to their discovery by observant supporters.

As a result of Moetsoeng's disqualification for taking Nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, all the runners who ended fourth to 11th were moved up one place in the finishing order, to complete the gold medal list.

That means 11th-placed Peter Muthubi of the Nedbank Running Club is now 10th, which earns him a gold medal.

"I am a happy man today because the Comrades Marathon makes sure the race is a true and a respected race," said Muthubi.

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