Patrick Lange finally gets to celebrate Ironman Texas win
Five months after the fact, German champion awarded title

Two-time Kona champ Patrick Lange (pictured above on his way to second at last year’s Ironman World Championship Nice) expressed his disappointment at not being able to celebrate as he crossed the line, but in a classy post on Instagram yesterday the German acknowledged his second Ironman North American Championship title after initial winner Tomas Rodríguez Hernández was caught doping.
Surprise Ironman Texas champ caught doping agrees to two year ban
The International Testing Agency announced on Friday that Rodriguez had agreed to a two-year ban for using Clomifene, a drug that “has the potential effects of boosting or restoring Testosterone production and thus increasing muscle mass.” That means that Lange is now, five months after the event, officially the winner of the race in Texas.
“Sometimes, victories can be bittersweet,” Lange wrote. “After @ironmantri Texas in late April, I was officially awarded the win today following the positive doping test of the “athlete” who initially crossed the line ahead of me.”
“This is my second victory in Texas from two starts,” Lange continued. “The race in The Woodlands has a special place in my heart because it’s been my first ever Ironman. So winning here means a lot to me! But it’s not how I wanted to achieve it. It’s heartbreaking to have that magical moment of crossing the finish line as the winner taken away in such an unfair way. For my team, my partners, and me, those moments of success are irreplaceable.”
“I completely distance myself from the actions and shortcuts my opponent took, and I stand firmly for clean sport,” Lange concluded. “Reaching the top takes years of dedication and hard work, but it’s absolutely possible to get there clean. No one becomes a champion overnight. I’m proud of my performance and grateful to Ironman for their commitment to fighting doping. Believe in yourself and in the value of honest competition.”
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