72-year-old runner receives three-year doping ban for multiple substances

June 27, 2024

If you think you’ve seen it all in running, think again. On Wednesday, the men’s 70+ one-mile American record holder, Robert Qualls of Reno, Nev., was suspended for three years for violating U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) rules after testing positive for multiple prohibited substances. Qualls is a renowned age-group runner, having won gold in the men’s 70+ 10K at the World Masters Athletics Championships last year in Poland, and another world title at the 2022 World Masters in Finland. He has won the last six USATF Masters 5K Championships for his age category, but his latest win will be disqualified due to the positive doping test. Canadian Running