Tomás Rodríguez positive for doping
This afternoon of Tuesday, August 6, the world of triathlon has been shaken by bad news.
The Mexican triathlete Tomas Rodriguez is under investigation by the International Testing Agency (ITA) after testing positive for Clomiphene in an anti-doping control carried out during IRONMAN Texas on April 27, 2024.
Rodríguez, who became known in this test after winning it with one of the fastest marathons recorded (2h34”), had recently been named athlete of the month by the PTO.
His next big event was the Challenge Roth, where he emerged as one of the favorites to break records. However, his sudden withdrawal from this test for “personal reasons” had already raised some suspicions.
Clomiphene is a substance used to induce ovulation in women, and in men, it can increase testosterone levels.
It was the IRONMAN organization itself that initiated the sanctioning process. Rodríguez requested the analysis of a B sample, which also turned out to be positive, further complicating his situation and leading the athlete to challenge the Provisional Suspension imposed.
Currently, the case is still ongoing and it is expected that the Mexican's definitive suspension will be confirmed soon.
Statements from the ITA and Rodríguez's defense
On Tuesday, the ITA reported that Rodríguez had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Clomiphene, collected during IRONMAN Texas. According to the ITA, The triathlete was notified of the case and provisionally suspended under Article 7.4.2 of the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules. Sample B confirmed the initial result and Rodríguez challenged the provisional suspension.
The case will be referred to the IRONMAN International Hearing Panel, pursuant to Article 8 of the Anti-Doping Rules, for a hearing. The ITA will not issue any further comments while the case is in progress.
In response, Rodríguez defended himself on his social networks: “I am Tomas Rodriguez, a professional athlete and clean sport ambassador. “I want to share an important update regarding my positive result in an anti-doping test conducted on April 27, 2024, where I tested positive for Clomiphene.”
Rodríguez emphasized that the levels of Clomiphene found in his system were extremely low and not consistent with the intentional use of the substance to enhance performance. He attributed the positive result to the inadvertent ingestion of contaminated foods, specifically eggs and chicken, common in his diet.
The triathlete highlighted his biological passport, which monitors his hormonal levels, showing normal ranges and no signs of doping. “These records, regularly reviewed and validated by independent experts, confirm that there has been no illicit activity,” Rodríguez said.
Rodríguez has expressed his intention to continue training and educating other athletes about the risks of food contamination during this period of provisional suspension.
“I have dedicated my life to sport. I have always competed with integrity and honesty. “I would never betray my principles or resort to the use of illegal substances to improve my performance,” he concluded, thanking his people for their support.
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