British long distance runner Luke Traynor slapped with two-year ban for taking cocaine after testing positive at Vitality London 10k race in May 2019
- Luke Traynor tested positive for cocaine at the Vitality London 10k race last May
- He admitted he had made an ‘incredibly stupid and uncharacteristic mistake’
- Traynor has now been given a two-year ban which is due to end in May 2021
- He faced four years away but UKAD noted his ‘timely admission’ of the violation
British distance runner Luke Traynor has been given a two-year ban after taking cocaine.
The 26-year-old, who admitted he made an ‘incredibly stupid and uncharacteristic mistake’ when his provisional suspension was announced last year, tested positive for cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine at the Vitality London 10k race in May 2019.
An independent panel accepted Traynor’s claim that the stimulant had not been intended for performance-enhancement.
British long distance runner Luke Traynor has been handed a two-year ban for taking cocaine
The athlete, who ran for Britain at the World Cross Country Championships last year, faced a potential ban of up to four years but a UK Anti-Doping statement noted his ‘timely admission’ of the violation, with his ban now due to end in May 2021.
Pat Myhill, UKAD director of operations, said: ‘We are urging athletes to consider the significant risk that goes hand in hand with using cocaine.
‘Athletes should be aware that cocaine, used out-of-competition, often stays in the system. If an athlete takes cocaine out-of-competition and then tests positive in-competition, they will be committing an ADRV and may be subject to a ban from sport.’