Hunter Galvan banned for Two Years

New Zealand Olympic Marathon runner Liza Hunter Galvan faces a two year ban from sport following a Sports Tribunal of New Zealand ruling earlier today. United States based Hunter Galvan tested positive for the use of erythropoietin (EPO), a prohibited performance enhancing substance, in an out-of-competition test conducted at her home on 23 March this year.

“It is abhorrent to think that a New Zealand athlete would choose this path, but it would be naïve to think that some of our athletes are not at times exposed to the temptation of performance enhancing substances,” said Athletics New Zealand chief executive officer Scott Newman. “For whatever reason, some athletes will be tempted and we are extremely disappointed with Liza. This certainly serves as a reminder that cheats are highly likely to be caught.”

“Liza has not only let herself and her sport down, she has let down those who have supported her throughout her career, including some of New Zealand’s athletics icons”, says Newman.

Athletics New Zealand applauds the efforts of Drug Free Sport New Zealand and the IAAF in their continued action and stance on the use of performance enhancing substances in sport.

Meanwhile, Athletics New Zealand hopes to learn next month whether Nick Willis will be upgraded to an Olympic silver medal following Olympic 1500m Champion Rashid Ramzi’s positive drugs test from the Beijing Olympic Games.