Surprise Ironman Texas winner caught doping
In-competition test comes up positive for drug that boosts testosterone production
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Patrick McDermott/Getty Images for Ironman
Mexico’s Tomas Rodriguez Hernandez, the surprise winner at the Ironman North American Championship in Texas, tested positive for Climifene, a banned drug used to boost testosterone, after the race. The result was reported by the International Testing Agency (ITA) on behalf of Ironman.
The positive result came during the in-competition testing at the race on April 27, 2024. At that race the Mexican outran Patrick Lange, considered the fastest marathon runner in the sport, clocking a 2:34:14 marathon leg compared to Lange’s 2:35:15.
Rodriguez was supposed to race at Challenge Roth last month, going after a bonus the organizers were offering if anyone could break the 2:30 barrier at the event. He announced on social media the week before the race that he wasn’t able to compete “for personal reasons.”
“The ITA has asserted an Anti-Doping Rule Violation as per Article 2.1 and/or Article 2.2 of the Ironman ADR,” today’s statement from the ITA read, which also reported that Rodriguez requested that his B sample be tested, which “confirmed the result of the A sample.
The case will now be referred to an International Hearing Panel.
Rodriguez’s win in Texas was a surprise, despite his win at Ironman 70.3 Campeche earlier in the season and his win at Ironman 70.3 Cozumel last year. He finished 45th at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside just three weeks before the Texas race, and his only other Ironman result was an eighth in Cozumel last year. He did run a 2:38:14 marathon in Cozumel, though, the day’s fastest split.