Thys 'shocked' by positive dope test

For two weeks, Gert Thys hasn't slept much and has been "crying a lot".

It was a fortnight ago that the South African marathon record holder and Olympian was informed that he had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid Norandrosterone after winning March's Seoul Marathon for the third time.

"I have found it very difficult to accept that this is happening to me," Thys admitted on Tuesday, when Athletics SA announced that the veteran athlete had been suspended pending the resolution of his doping case.

"I have always tried to be as natural (clean) as possible, but it seems that I am now paying the price for 21 years of dedication (to athletics)."

Thys said he had no idea how traces of the substance showed up in his urine, but suspected that it might be contained in declared medication he takes for a problem that has afflicted him for years, in which his muscles cannot absorb carbohydrates and cramp up.

"Everybody knows that Nandrolone is of no benefit to distance athletes because we need lean muscles, so I would be stupid to take it," he said. "I get tested at every race and I know Nandrolone cannot be hidden, so it really doesn't make sense to me.

"I have been told to see a special doctor in Germany who can help me fight this. But I know that if I cannot prove that the substance was maybe slipped in to one of my drinks, I will be banned. Then I will have to look at finishing with athletics.

"I am in a very difficult position, but I must stay positive."

Thys will ask for his B sample to be tested and then argue his case at an ASA hearing.