Griffiths banned 3 months for cocaine metabolite
British marathoner Joshua Griffiths has a three month ban for benzoylecgonine, and Sage Canaday says the drug behind it could actually be abused in long ultras. Plus the first 2028 Trials rankings, with Talbi over Mantz.
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Big deal
AIU bans British marathoner Joshua Griffiths for three months
The Athletics Integrity Unit banned Great Britain's Joshua Griffiths for three months from 19 June 2026 for presence of benzoylecgonine, with his results disqualified from 3 May 2026. Sage Canaday, who describes it as a ban for cocaine in his system, says the drug could be abused in long ultras.
I will say I see this as a PED that could be abused especially in longer ultras like a Backyard though.
Races and results
Race result
Talbi passes Mantz at No. 1 in 2028 Trials rankings
CITIUS MAG put Zouhair Talbi at No. 1 in its updated 2028 US Olympic Marathon Trials power rankings, ahead of Clayton Young and a third-place Conner Mantz.
I only lean Conner because I think Conner’s 2025 campaign is better than Zouhair’s 2026, and I’m not letting recency bias cloud me.