Search
shop

Triathlete given eight-year ban for second anti-doping rule violation

USADA has announced that Polish triathlete Robert Karaś - a multiple world record holder - has been handed an eight-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has announced that Polish triathlete Robert Karaś has been given an eight-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance.

An independent arbitrator issued the sanction after an evidentiary hearing on December 20, 2024 – with the length of the ban explained by the fact this is the Warsaw athlete’s second violation in a decade.

The 35-year-old tested positive for clomiphene following an in-competition urine sample collected at the Florida ANVIL Ultra Triathlon on February 24, 2024 by USADA, who were contracted by event organisers to conduct testing and results management.

Clomiphene is a Specified Substance in the class of Hormone and Metabolic Modulators and is prohibited at all times under the USADA Protocol for Olympic and Paralympic Movement Testing, the United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies, and the World Triathlon Anti-Doping Rules, all of which have adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.

Who is Robert Karaś?

In the full arbitration award document, which is linked here, Karaś is described as: “An elite-level, 35-year-old ultra endurance athlete from Poland. He holds an impressive list of athletic achievements, including setting multiple world records.

“Specifically, Respondent holds the double ultra triathlon world record, which consists of a 4.7-mile swim, a 223-mile bike ride, and 52-mile run. He also holds the triple ultra triathlon world record, consisting of a 7-mile swim, a 340-mile bike ride, and a 78-mile run.

“In the 2024 Florida ANVIL Ultra Triathlon event, which gave rise to his positive clomiphene test, Respondent was the only person to complete the 5x ultra triathlon event. That event consisted of a 12-mile swim, 560-mile bike ride, and 131-mile run. He completed the event in 60 hours, which set another world record.”

Suspended until 2033

Karaś was already serving a two-year ban imposed by the International Ultra Triathlon Association (IUTA) after testing positive for multiple banned substances in Brazil in May 2023, when he broke the world record in the 10-time Ironman distance. As a result he was stripped of the record.

That suspension remains in effect until 29 May, 2025 – so his new ban will commence the next day, and he will not be able to compete again until 2033.

Karaś received an extended period of ineligibility under the rules because this was his second anti-doping rule violation within a 10-year period.

The first anti-doping rule violation came when he tested positive for multiple prohibited substances from a sample collected at the direction of the International Ultra Triathlon Association (IUTA), which USADA verified through its investigation in this case.

Although the IUTA is not a signatory to the Code, USADA and all other Code signatories recognize sanctions by bodies that are not Code signatories if the sanction issued was within the non-signatory’s authority and the anti-doping rules of the non-signatory are otherwise consistent with the Code. The IUTA fits those criteria, and therefore, USADA has recognized the IUTA’s sanction.

All medals, points and prizes Karaś achieved since the date of his second positive test in February 2024 will now be forfeited, and all of his competitive results from that date disqualified.

Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
Challenge Sardinia location
Let’s race… Challenge Forte Village Sardinia
Are calf sleeves actually worth it for triathletes? How many watts aero calf compression sleeves could save you
Laura Siddall Patagonman Xtreme Triathlon 2023
PremiumAre we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
Is sports nutrition bad for you? Ultra-processed foods are under siege, and athletes are caught in the cross fire – but should we be worried?
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
The ultimate city break triathlon race-cations: from Challenge Barcelona to Singapore T100 these are the best city centre races to combine multisport with sightseeing
latest News
IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Podium 2024 Taylor Knibb Kat Matthews Ashleigh Gentle
Star-studded line-up revealed for women’s IRONMAN 70.3 Worlds – but will they all show up?
Cassandre Beaugrand run WTCS Grand Final Wollongong 2025
Olympic champ Beaugrand on Wollongong DNF and why showing vulnerability is not a weakness
Youri Keulen Wollongong T100 2025 finish line
Relief and joy for Youri Keulen as Dutchman finally gets to enjoy T100 podium celebration
Kate Waugh Lucy Charles Barclay Taylor Knibb on London T100 podium 2025
Wollongong T100 hero Waugh hoping her big rivals recover in time for Qatar showdown
Matt Hauser Aussie flag WTCS Wollongong 2025
‘I knew I had it in me’ – Matt Hauser on his incredible journey to the world title
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
247 Endurance

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...