A drug scandal has rocked the Stawell Gift, with this year’s winner stripped of his title after testing positive to an ADHD medication.
Olufemi Komolafe, a 21-year-old medical student from Adelaide, will be forced to hand back his $40,000 winner’s cheque.
He’s also been banned for 12 months.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
The ban was downgraded from four years due to Komolafe being unaware that the substance was in the medication and having informed testers on the day he was taking the ADHD pills.
The young sprinter’s coach, Paul Young, who won the Gift in 1985, revealed that Komolafe had started taking the medication on the advice of his sister, a doctor, to help with his university studies.
The positive test has sent shockwaves through the iconic footrace, one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious running events.
Komolafe won the men’s Stawell Gift ahead of Jake Ireland and Dutch hurdler Liam van der Schaaf.
Ireland has been retrospectively named the winner.
The Irelands have been chasing the Gift for 40 years starting with Todd, Jake’s father, who made three appearances.
Komolafe won the 144th edition of the Gift off a handicap of 5m in 11.93sec but is now banned from running until July 2 next year.
With The West Australian
