IRONMAN triathlon champion given two-year ban for anti-doping rule violation

Mexican triathlete Tomás Rodríguez Hernández has been handed a two-year ban for an anti-doping rule violation.

The Mexican star claimed victory at IRONMAN Texas back in April, completing his win with an astonishing 2:34:14 marathon.

But on August 6 the news came out of the International Testing Agency (ITA) that Rodríguez Hernández had returned an Adverse Analytical Finding for Clomifene (S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators). The sample was collected during an in-competition test at that IRONMAN Texas race on April 27.

Tomás Rodríguez Hernández won IRONMAN Texas in April [Photo Credit: Kyle Rivas/Getty Images for IRONMAN].

Case hits the headlines

The ITA statement confirmed that Rodríguez Hernández had been notified of the case, and has been provisionally suspended pursuant to Article 7.4.2 of the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules (IRONMAN ADR).

Rodríguez Hernández requested the opening and analysis of the B-sample, which confirmed the result of the A-sample. The athlete also challenged the imposition of the Provisional Suspension. He also released a statement protesting his innocence.

The Mexican star said: “The presence of Clomiphene in my system is due to the inadvertent consumption of contaminated food, specifically eggs and chicken, which are abundant in my diet.”

On Friday (September 13) we got a further update on the case, with the ITA confirming that Rodríguez Hernández has now been handed a two-year ban.

Ban confirmed by ITA

It said in a statement: “The International Testing Agency (ITA) on behalf of IRONMAN reports that Tomás Rodríguez Hernández, a triathlete from Mexico, has been sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation (“ADRV”) under Article 2.1 of the IRONMAN Anti-Doping Rules (“IRONMAN ADR”) for the Presence of Clomifene.

“As previously announced, the Athlete provided a sample under the Testing Authority and Results Management Authority of IRONMAN during an In-Competition anti-doping control at the 2024 IRONMAN Texas on 27 April 2024 which upon analysis, was positive for Clomifene.

“Clomifene is a Specified Substance prohibited under class S4. Hormone and Metabolic Modulators of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List. Clomifene has the potential effects of boosting or restoring Testosterone production and thus increasing muscle mass.

“Tomás Rodríguez Hernández was under Provisional Suspension and accepted the ADRV and agreed with the Consequences determined by the ITA as per the IRONMAN ADR, namely a two-year period of Ineligibility¹ as from 6 June 2024 until 5 June 2026 and disqualification of all his competitive results as from 27 April 2024.

“Accordingly, this case was resolved via an Agreement on Consequences pursuant to Article 8.3.1 of the IRONMAN ADR.”

Written by

Graham Shaw

Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.

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