Robert Karaś banned for eight years for second doping offence
Eight years of suspension for a second positive
The world of triathlon is once again in the spotlight due to a doping case.
On this occasion, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) ha announced the eight-year suspension of the Polish triathlete Robert Karas, an ultra-endurance athlete who held several world records.
Eight years of suspension for a second positive
The harsh ruling comes from an independent tribunal that examined the evidence presented on December 20, 2024. The body determined that the positive for Clomiphene - detected in a sample taken on February 24, 2024 - constituted the second violation of anti-doping rules by Robert Karas.
Due to this repeat offence, the sanction extends until 2033, which practically keeps him out of competition for a good part of his sporting career.
The eight-year sentence did not begin immediately because the athlete was already serving another sanction since 2023, so the new one will begin on May 30, 2025, just after the previous one ends.
The banned substance: Clomiphene
Clomiphene is classified as Specific Substance in the class of Hormonal and Metabolic Modulators.
Its prohibition is total, both in competition and outside of it, in accordance with:
- El USADA Protocol for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement events.
- The Anti-Doping Policies of the United States Olympic Committee.
- The Anti-Doping Rules of World Triathlon.
All these institutions are governed by the World Anti-Doping Code and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
The mere fact that Clomiphene appears in the analysis of a urine sample amounts to a direct violation of anti-doping regulations.
The world records that took him to the top
Robert Karas, 35, was no stranger to the ultra-endurance sports scene. In fact, he made a name for himself by achieving incredible times in races that far exceed the usual distance of Ironman.
- Double ultra triathlon: 4,7 miles of swimming, 223 miles of cycling and 52 miles of running.
- Triple ultra triathlon: 7 miles of swimming, 340 miles of cycling and 78 miles of running.
In addition, it was common at events such as the Florida ANVIL Ultra Triathlon, where he completed a 5x ultra triathlon (12 miles of swimming, 560 of cycling and 131 of running) in 60 hours, thus breaking another world record. However, all that record is overshadowed by his recent doping case.
A history with another previous sanction
Remember that Crucian had already received a sanction imposed by the International Ultra Triathlon Association (IUTA) in 2023.
On that occasion, he tested positive for multiple banned substances during the 10 times Ironman distance race in Brazil. In addition to the two-year suspension, the world record he had set in that competition was revoked.
Although the IUTA As a non-signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, USADA recognises its sanctions provided that the rules of the non-signatory organisation meet the criteria of the same code. This is precisely what made Karaś's previous infringement count as a precedent and aggravated his current sanction.
It remains to be seen whether the lengthy eight-year suspension will mark the definitive end of the career of this Polish ultra-endurance specialist.