British Marathoner Joshua Griffiths Banned for Three Months — image accompanying Canadian Running's report. Image accompanying Canadian Running’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Joshua Griffiths, a British marathoner, received a three-month ban for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite. The sample was taken post-Belfast marathon on May 3. Griffiths initially disputed the claim but accepted the charges.
The Athletics Integrity Unit disqualified his Belfast results and suspended him from June 19 to Sept. 19. Griffiths claimed no knowledge of how cocaine entered his system. He argued the low level of cocaine couldn't have affected his performance. Read more culture coverage.
Despite his claims, the AIU found the ingestion was out-of-competition. Griffiths admitted to the violation, resulting in a three-month ban. This was his first offense, leading to a reduced sentence. Related: Kenya’s Mercy Oketch Suspended Over Banned Substances.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Canadian Running. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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Questions about this report
What should runners know about British Marathoner Joshua Griffiths Banned for Three Months?
Griffiths banned for cocaine metabolite found in his system after Belfast marathon. Joshua Griffiths, a British marathoner, received a three-month ban for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite. The sample was taken post-Belfast marathon on May 3. Griffiths initially disputed the claim but accepted the charges.
When did Runner World publish this culture brief?
Runner World published this brief on November 11, 2026. The underlying Canadian Running report was dated November 11, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Canadian Running. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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