The article was initially entiteld, "Zane Robertston!!!!" but we changed it to make it more descriptive. Here is our article on his bust and fake excuses (he said he went to a hospital for a COvid-19 vaccine but they gave him EPO instead) which points out that in 2016 he expressed frutation at the amount of doping in the sport:
Zane speaks! He did an interview this morning with Dom Harvey on the "Runners Only" podcast on spotify.
Will aim to provide a summary soon but 25 minutes in, this is legitimately some of the darkest conversation I have ever heard.
Zane should be in a hospital right now, not alone.
I am really concerned for his well being.
It's a very sad and to a career for Zane and it didn't have to be this way.
I'm not sure what the future holds for him but I think he should branch out into other endeavors because unfortunately for now his name linked to athletics is not good.
Might this change in the future? Possible - but he would have to come completely clean and and give more information about doping, and the minutae of doping in relation to the sport of long distance running in Kenya for us to learn more and be more cognisant of the potential problems.
He could become a spokesman going to schools in New Zealand and other countries telling students about the perils of doping and the long-term consequences and his own case is absolutely relevant because he was caught and has paid a very heavy price with a very sad end to a professional career which didn't have to be this way.
Jake, his twin brother, has a perfect clean slate and hopefully it will stay this way and there is no reason it should not. It's an interesting study taking into account that the twins have almost identical times from 5000m to the marathon and Zane only had a vastly different time in the 1500 m at 3:34 compared to Jake's 351. This will show that the gains of doping were negligible compared to intrinsic worth shown by a clean slate Jake.
Will aim to provide a summary soon but 25 minutes in, this is legitimately some of the darkest conversation I have ever heard.
Zane should be in a hospital right now, not alone.
I am really concerned for his well being.
It's a very sad and to a career for Zane and it didn't have to be this way.
I'm not sure what the future holds for him but I think he should branch out into other endeavors because unfortunately for now his name linked to athletics is not good.
Might this change in the future? Possible - but he would have to come completely clean and and give more information about doping, and the minutae of doping in relation to the sport of long distance running in Kenya for us to learn more and be more cognisant of the potential problems.
He could become a spokesman going to schools in New Zealand and other countries telling students about the perils of doping and the long-term consequences and his own case is absolutely relevant because he was caught and has paid a very heavy price with a very sad end to a professional career which didn't have to be this way.
Jake, his twin brother, has a perfect clean slate and hopefully it will stay this way and there is no reason it should not. It's an interesting study taking into account that the twins have almost identical times from 5000m to the marathon and Zane only had a vastly different time in the 1500 m at 3:34 compared to Jake's 351. This will show that the gains of doping were negligible compared to intrinsic worth shown by a clean slate Jake.
You have no clue whether Jake was doping of course. This is not a study at all. One twin tested positive. The other has not. That is all we know for sure.
It's a very sad and to a career for Zane and it didn't have to be this way.
I'm not sure what the future holds for him but I think he should branch out into other endeavors because unfortunately for now his name linked to athletics is not good.
Might this change in the future? Possible - but he would have to come completely clean and and give more information about doping, and the minutae of doping in relation to the sport of long distance running in Kenya for us to learn more and be more cognisant of the potential problems.
He could become a spokesman going to schools in New Zealand and other countries telling students about the perils of doping and the long-term consequences and his own case is absolutely relevant because he was caught and has paid a very heavy price with a very sad end to a professional career which didn't have to be this way.
Jake, his twin brother, has a perfect clean slate and hopefully it will stay this way and there is no reason it should not. It's an interesting study taking into account that the twins have almost identical times from 5000m to the marathon and Zane only had a vastly different time in the 1500 m at 3:34 compared to Jake's 351. This will show that the gains of doping were negligible compared to intrinsic worth shown by a clean slate Jake.
You have no clue whether Jake was doping of course. This is not a study at all. One twin tested positive. The other has not. That is all we know for sure.
We have no evidence that Jake doped in his long career but we do have direct evidence that the twins have very similar times and quasi identical physical potential.
What I did find interesting in the last few years is the significant difference in physical shape between Zane and Jake with the former being much more muscular and developed almost looking like a different person from extreme ectomorph Jake who looks like a weight-loss (almost pathological) victim in recent years.
Did Zane's more muscular development suggest doping? - possible but I think people more familiar with the subject should weigh in on that.
Yep that podcast really brings home the consequences of making wrong decisions.
Totally agree the guy is guilty and i even slightly suspect he is still lying about the length of time he was taking the drug and how he got it. However he made two big mistakes in taking the drug and them doubling down with a stupid lie. The guy is human and we need to keep some perspective to understand that it would be better if he can come out the other side of this as an advocate of clean sport rather than doing the unspeakable. We do not need to pile on this person his career and family life are already in ruins.
Yep that podcast really brings home the consequences of making wrong decisions.
Totally agree the guy is guilty and i even slightly suspect he is still lying about the length of time he was taking the drug and how he got it. However he made two big mistakes in taking the drug and them doubling down with a stupid lie. The guy is human and we need to keep some perspective to understand that it would be better if he can come out the other side of this as an advocate of clean sport rather than doing the unspeakable. We do not need to pile on this person his career and family life are already in ruins.
Hey, guys. I've just reread the the entire thread and now realise many of my posts are coming off rather harsh and lacking in empathy, which I'm not super proud of. I guess it's all just pent-up antipathy from years of hearing about this guy's antics and misbehaviour towards the community that welcomed and took him in. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact he's a human being, regardless. The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa post, especially, was in bad taste. I'll try to be better.
Another thing that doesn't sit well with me is the automatic piling on his brother as a likely doper because of this outcome. Unfair and hypocritical as I've always been very vocal about holding individual Kenyan dopers accountable without extrapolating broadly upon the entire Kenyan running community. By all accounts, Zane and Jake have gone on pretty divergent paths both personally and athletically. Whatever one does doesn't necessarily mirror the other. And even Iten residents on Twitter who've had run-ins with either or both acknowledge they aren't the same and that Jake is a much milder version of his brother. So keep that in mind.
Just a couple of things I had to get off my chest.
Will aim to provide a summary soon but 25 minutes in, this is legitimately some of the darkest conversation I have ever heard.
Zane should be in a hospital right now, not alone.
I am really concerned for his well being.
It's a very sad and to a career for Zane and it didn't have to be this way.
I'm not sure what the future holds for him but I think he should branch out into other endeavors because unfortunately for now his name linked to athletics is not good.
Might this change in the future? Possible - but he would have to come completely clean and and give more information about doping, and the minutae of doping in relation to the sport of long distance running in Kenya for us to learn more and be more cognisant of the potential problems.
He could become a spokesman going to schools in New Zealand and other countries telling students about the perils of doping and the long-term consequences and his own case is absolutely relevant because he was caught and has paid a very heavy price with a very sad end to a professional career which didn't have to be this way.
Jake, his twin brother, has a perfect clean slate and hopefully it will stay this way and there is no reason it should not. It's an interesting study taking into account that the twins have almost identical times from 5000m to the marathon and Zane only had a vastly different time in the 1500 m at 3:34 compared to Jake's 351. This will show that the gains of doping were negligible compared to intrinsic worth shown by a clean slate Jake.
Why did Jake delete his instagram account with 100,000+ followers, and not compete for over 2 years - whilst no agent or race would take him on?
Why does Jake STILL not have a sponsor?
Why are his PBs almost identical to his biologically twin brother?
Soooooo ... Zane confirms in the podcast he got the EPO from Ethiopia (bought by his ex-wife), smuggled it into Kenya like many foreign athletes do, yet it was Kenya that got all the initial smoke from everyone on this site right down to Zane sympathisers on SM. Dozens of Armstronglivs' posts on this thread have come to nought because of his impatience to lay the blame on the country letsrunners love to hate.
Zane speaks! He did an interview this morning with Dom Harvey on the "Runners Only" podcast on spotify.
Will aim to provide a summary soon but 25 minutes in, this is legitimately some of the darkest conversation I have ever heard.
Zane should be in a hospital right now, not alone.
I am really concerned for his well being.
I don't want to be dismissive but NZ Athletics have said they've been providing him mental health support since the positive test last year. Saying things like "I want to shoot myself in the head today" seems a bit sensationalist which is in line with much of their attitudes over the years and deflecting from taking responsibility - much of the interview is really soft on him and is a big deflection about how it was his only choice/was logical/everyone's doing it. Also, what reaction did he expect here?
I've just listened to the interview: - there's alot of 'woe is me', all the sympathy should be on him apparently - he had EPO in his house before he even moved to Kenya, but said this doping was a one-off and he "hadn't even seen the effects of it yet" - tested 50x in his entire career (seems low?) - claims he couldn't move back to NZ ever (poor excuse), so with covid effecting money/contracts, this was the logical choice. Doesn't he own a gym and hotel? - thinks he could still run a good Marathon on his return at 40, but likely wont try - notes his VISA will expire now and he'll have to move - says he wants to/is happy to pace fun runners in Marathons now
Don't expect too much from this interview - the interviewer is incredibly gracious towards Zane.
I also don't think (per Aliphine's tweet) there's any shade of racism that should be involved here regarding blaming the individuals at the doctors - if you live in Kenya, there's mostly only black people, so if he blames anyone it will likely be a black person by default, it's not like living in the Western world where there's a different population dynamic, where he would have targeted someone based on race.
Lets be honest, we get an interview which we don't get with most others, but nothing about this case is special - the majority of dopers did it out of frustration about performance, injuries and their peers' performances. I'm not moved by him being sad about it, this is all very run of the mill.
"I feel the need to vent here, as the actions of my brother have unfortunately caused myself and my immediate family a great amount of anguish and financial loss. All of which is even more frustrating, and infuriating, due to the fact that I am not at fault and I have not been involved in any shape or form those actions of my twin brother. There are videos and other content online which state that "they are doping," even though, while a twin, I am my own person and invidual. It seems that people have lumped me together with my brother, as if we were physically joined at the hit, but being a twin doesn't mean that we automatically think or do the same things. Simply put, I should not suffer the consequences for my brother's mistakes and I should not be held accountable for his wrong doings. I didn't have control of being born a twin, just like someone doesn't have any control who their parents are or where they are born, the color of their skin, etc. I didn't choose my family and I can't escape my bloodline, but I am still paying the price of my family's mistakes here and receiving a lot of hate and abuse online because of it. I am a father of a 20-month old son and I am and have been far to busy with taking care of him, my family, and trying to concentrate on my own running career than to know what my brother has been doing. Anyone who has a young child knows how time consuming this is and I live with my wife and son, not with my brother. I do, however, want to state that I appreciate that Athletics NZ and HPSNZ stated that they would continue to help Zane psychologically and emotionally through this difficult time. His wellbeing and health is still of the upmost importance. I can't help feel disappointed though as I have been a victim of the fallout from this situation as I have lost out of a pending sponsorship contract because of it. To be continued in next post -
2)
In continuation - In short, I can't stop from people associating me with my brother (it doesn't help that we look exactly the same, etc.) but just because he's my twin doesn't mean I've been aware of his every move or involved in any of his decision making. Again, I am a father of a young boy and husband and I don't have time to follow every move of another adult, even if he's family. I’ve had people tell me to distance myself or dissolve my relationship with my brother. Am I angry and upset with my brother? Absolutely. Am I pissed that I've been dragged into this, in a sense? Yes. I am pissed off. But anger won't help me and it's already taken me some days to try to put my feelings down on paper. I am not writing this in order to have anyone's approval or even in defense of my brother, but to clarify that I am my own person and in control of my own actions and life, and that alone. I am Jake Robertson. Not Zane Robertson. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of my family, friends and all others who have reached out to show their support for me in this difficult time."
Kenyans are ripping him to shreds on SM and bringing up some of their old run-ins like this one when he was self-exiled to Ethiopia, WHERE HE GOT THE DRUGS! But everyone turned it into a discussion about doping in Kenya
I don't know why you are bringing Omanyala's case in Zane's doping case. Zane's case is based on falsified information and referrals, Omanyala's wasn't - he was treated by a real doctor who came out as a witness
Kenyans are ripping him to shreds on SM and bringing up some of their old run-ins like this one when he was self-exiled to Ethiopia, WHERE HE GOT THE DRUGS! But everyone turned it into a discussion about doping in Kenya
On Tuesday March 22, it was announced that NZ distance runner, Zane Robertson had received a seven-year ban for failing a drug test. Four years was for taking the banned substance EPO, an additional three years was for trying...
What are you talking about? In general, barring a few cranks, Letsrunners revel in Kenyan running performances. Kipchoge must be the most popular runner of all time. Most people are even sympathetic with Kiprop. We were crushed to hear of his doping charges.
Yep that podcast really brings home the consequences of making wrong decisions.
Totally agree the guy is guilty and i even slightly suspect he is still lying about the length of time he was taking the drug and how he got it. However he made two big mistakes in taking the drug and them doubling down with a stupid lie. The guy is human and we need to keep some perspective to understand that it would be better if he can come out the other side of this as an advocate of clean sport rather than doing the unspeakable. We do not need to pile on this person his career and family life are already in ruins.
100000 percent agree. Great post.
Exactly. Sometimes a little life context, perspective and empathy wouldn't go amiss.
And no, this isn't being a doping apologist - it sucks, it's wrong and it's lame - but in the grander scheme of it's kind of inconsequential. And this comes from someone who missed out on some moments because of dopers in track and field but looking back? So what.
Everything from actually getting caught, to the excuse, to the interview is all pretty tragic and points at a guy pretty lost, desperate and one that believed his only pathway to life fulfillment was distance running, hence being good at it had to happen at any cost. Yeah that sounds whimsical but at the first principal level of the issue of why athletes dope, is true.
I don't think he needs to come out the other side of this an advocate of clean sport - that doesn't mean anything. I hope he can come out the other side of this with something other than running and just find some happiness and meaning in his life. I'd get the f--k out of Kenya for a start, take what money I have left and go back to school or invest it in myself. If Zane Roberston (and his brother tbh) are reading this, I hope it's exactly what they do.
Totally agree the guy is guilty and i even slightly suspect he is still lying about the length of time he was taking the drug and how he got it.
Seriously? Only "slightly suspect" that he didn't dope only once? That story has so many holes, it's just another series of lies from this drug cheat.
If you had been doping for a decade and we're busted, wouldn't you do this to try and protect the rest of your career? Are you really coming out and saying well after a decade I finally screwed up and got caught?