Josh Griffiths served three-month ban after positive Belfast Marathon drug test

Great Britain and Wales marathon runner Josh Griffiths received a three-month doping ban after a sample taken following the Belfast City Marathon tested positive for benzoylecgonine, BBC Sport reported on Wednesday. The substance is produced when the body processes cocaine. The 33-year-old denied taking cocaine or any other social drug, but accepted the anti-doping rule violation and the sanction imposed by the Athletics Integrity Unit.

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The ban began on 19 June 2026, the date of the hearing, and ran for three months. His results from 3 May, when the Belfast marathon took place, through the end of the suspension were also removed. The sanction reported by the BBC therefore concerned a suspension that had already run its course, rather than a new three-month period starting in November.

According to the BBC's account of the AIU ruling, Griffiths could not establish how cocaine had entered his system. However, the unit accepted that any ingestion occurred outside competition and was unrelated to sport. Griffiths submitted scientific data supporting his position on the timing of ingestion, which the AIU accepted. That finding did not prevent the imposition of a ban or the removal of his results.

The BBC reported that benzoylecgonine was detected in both urine samples provided after the Belfast race. On being informed of the initial adverse finding, Griffiths said a mistake must have occurred. At a later hearing, he maintained that he had never knowingly ingested cocaine and said he was unaware of anyone close to him using it before the event.

As part of his account, Griffiths supplied details of his movements and activities before the race, including his stay at the official race hotel. He said he had neither attended social events nor consumed alcohol, and that his contact had largely been with fellow athletes and race personnel. Those details formed part of his explanation to the AIU.

Griffiths earned international selection after finishing as the leading British runner at the 2017 London Marathon while competing as a club athlete. He subsequently turned professional and represented Great Britain at the 2017 and 2022 World Championships, as well as Wales at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. His later London Marathon results included eighth place in 2021.