Duluth, MN (Northland’s NewsCenter) — A 24 year old runner from Ethiopia will no longer be invited to run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth after testing positive for drugs. Watch Video

Ezkyas Sisay, who ran and placed in Grandma’s races in both 2009 and 2010, has received a two–year doping ban after testing positive for drugs after running the New York City Marathon.

The U.S Anti–Doping Agency said the marathoner admitted to using a banned synthetic substance after he tested positive for it.

Grandma’s Marathon instituted a strict drug policy for elite runners back 2007 after the 2006 female champion tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

“Our policy basically states that if you’re an athlete who has tested positive for banned substances, that we’re not going to invite you back to participate in a Grandma’s marathon event. You know, it’s a situation where the athlete makes these decisions and some of them obviously make poor decisions,” said Bob Gustafson.

Sisay placed 11th in Grandma’s full marathon in 2010.