Josh Griffiths, a British marathon runner, received a three-month ban from the Athletics Integrity Unit. Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, was found in his system after the Belfast City Marathon. Griffiths denied using cocaine and claimed the presence was unrelated to sport.

The ban, which began on June 19, 2026, also nullified his results from the Belfast Marathon. Griffiths, who represented Great Britain and Wales in various competitions, maintained his innocence and provided evidence of his activities before the race. The AIU accepted his claim that the ingestion was out of competition. Read more racing coverage.

Griffiths rose to prominence by finishing as the fastest British runner in the 2017 London Marathon. He went on to compete in the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games. The AIU's report noted Griffiths' disbelief at the initial finding and his insistence on the impossibility of his involvement. Related: Josh Griffiths banned for three months over cocaine metabolite.

This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from BBC Sport Athletics. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.