- Robert Karasch broke the Ironman course record five times in Florida, improving it by more than seven hours. The super athlete was disqualified by the IUTA due to doping
- Despite the disqualification, he was allowed to participate in the competition in Florida organized by the World Ultratriathlon Organization. In the United States, he was again caught doping, which could lead to him losing another record
- Robert Karash responded to the accusations on his social media
- More information can be found on the Onet home page
Robert Karach is still subject to a two-year disqualification by the International Triathlon Union (IUTA) for doping. The banned substance drostanolone was discovered in his system shortly after he set a world record in the 10 Ironman in Rio de Janeiro. The super-qualified athlete has been disqualified and deprived of this record.
The period of suspension is counted from the date of detection of a positive anti-doping test sample, i.e. from May 30, 2023, and continues until May 29, 2025. However, the Polish athlete has obtained permission to participate in the Florida ANVIL Ultra Triathlon competition in the United States. There was another organization responsible for the event in the American Clermont Association – World Ultra Triathlon Association (WUTA – World Ultra Triathlon Association).
There, Robert Karasch achieved a record-breaking feat. He completed the Ironman course five times in 60 hours, 21 minutes and 24 seconds, thus breaking the world record. The Pole smashed the previous record set by Adrian Kostera by more than seven hours – 7 hours to be exact. 24 minutes.
However, there are several indicators that this record may have been lost as well. As Oneh discovered in three independent sources, Karash was caught doping again in the United States. This time, two substances banned for athletes were discovered in his body – clomiphene and drostanolone.
Clomiphene is used, among other things, by people who use performance stimulants to alleviate their side effects. In turn, Drostanolone is an anabolic androgenic steroid, that is, a synthetic substance that mimics the action of testosterone (male sex hormone). It affects muscle size, strength and performance.
We have contacted the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) regarding this matter. — These competitions in the USA, in which Robert Karasch participated, were under the control of USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency – ed.). It is the institution responsible for investigating this case. In such a case, we are not responsible for these matters and cannot comment on them until the relevant agency makes an official announcement about the matter, Katarzyna Kubisz-Zemczyk, spokeswoman for the Polish Anti-Doping Agency, tells Onet.
We ask our interlocutor whether POLADA has received information from its American counterpart about Robert Karach's discovery of doping. -I cannot answer this question. “I can neither confirm nor deny this,” Katarzyna Kubis-Zemcek said.
Robert Karash explains
Today, despite numerous attempts, we have been unable to contact Robert Karasch and his team. But the athlete posted the information on his social media.
Robert Karasch announced that he had received information from USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) that banned substances had been detected in his body.
“I received information from USAID [Amerykańska Agencja Antydopingowa — dop. red.]That there are still residues of substances that were detected in my body after the competition in Brazil in my body. I did not have the opportunity to take anti-doping tests before the last start in the United States. This is not allowed,” we read.
“Unfortunately, the remnants of these substances are still inside me. I do not know yet what formal consequences await me, but that is not the most important. Let my story serve as a warning to every athlete, especially young people. I am not looking for explanations, I must now bear the consequences of my stupidity.” And my negligence. The mistake I made 1.5 years ago will stay with me forever,” Karash finished the entry.
“Bacon scholar. Incurable social media ninja. Professional travel aficionado. Beer buff.”