Source : the age
The men’s winner of this year’s Stawell Gift, Olufemi Komolafe has been stripped of the title and his prizemoney over a failed drug test.
Komalafe has apologised for his accidental breach which saw him fail a doping test after the prestigious Easter Monday 120m sprint. He will lose the title and the $40,000 winner’s cheque.
“I want to apologise for all this. I won’t keep the title of Stawell Gift winner, but the experience of winning it was invaluable, and I’m eager and confident that I can take it to the next level when I return,” Komalafe said in a message to friends.
Komalafe failed a drug test after inadvertently taking a banned substance contained in ADHD medication. He has received a 12-month ban, reduced from the standard four years after Sport Integrity Australia accepted the use was inadvertent and Komalafe co-operated fully with authorities.
He won the race in April off five metres in a time of 12.03 seconds.
Jake Ireland, who came second and will be elevated to winner, said it was not the way he wanted to be called a Stawell Gift winner.
“Ninety percent of winning is crossing the line and celebrating with your family and friends,” Ireland said.
“I certainly don’t feel like a winner, maybe that’s the competitor in me. I was not first over the line.
“I suppose this year has got an asterisk to it. I would hate to come across as gloating or rubbing it in.
“It was not like a blatant cheating where it’s deliberate; it was accidental. I feel for him, too, I know he is in a horrible place.”
Stawell Gift Event Management said it was aware of a matter relating to the 2026 Stawell Gift that was now being examined by Sport Integrity Australia processes.
“[We] respects the integrity of this process, including the rights of all parties involved,” the organisation posted on Instagram.
“The integrity of competition is fundamental to the Stawell Gift. SGEM is committed to providing a fair and level playing field for every athlete and respects the established processes for dealing with matters of this nature.”
The Victorian Athletic League’s statement said it could “confirm an integrity issue and process is underway with an athlete related to the 2026 Stawell Gift”.
“We can’t comment at this stage until the process is completed by Sport Integrity Australia,” it added.
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Michael Gleeson is an award-winning senior sports writer specialising in AFL and athletics.Connect via X or email.
