Scottish runner Luke Traynor tests positive for cocaine
Traynor faces a ban of up to four years
Scottish cross country runner Luke Traynor has revealed that he is facing a ban of up to four years by the UK Anti-doping agency after he tested positive for cocaine use.
The long-distance runner, who runs for Giffnock North, finished 109th at the World Cross Country Championships in March whilst representing Britain and was 38th at the World Half Marathon Championships last year.
Traynor made the revelation on social media, posting a statement from his Twitter account, and also put it on Instagram this morning.
Traynor said that he took the drug in a social situation and not for performance enhancing purposes but that he regretted his actions. He said:
"I was notified recently by letter from UKAD that I had have been charged with a violation of the UK Athletics Ant-doping rules for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine
"This was devasting news for me and I take full responsibility for it
"I have made an incredibly stupid and uncharacteristic mistake and for that I am deeply sorry. I am sorry to my family, friends, coaches, sponsors, and anybody who has supported my progress at any stage of my career.
"I want to make it completely clear that my violation was in no relation to sport or enhancing performance. This happened as a one-off and in a purely social situation with a drug I should never have taken."
Traynor added that he was cooperating fully with all of the relevant authorities and would accept the potentially "severe" consequences.
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