The 32-year-old Two Oceans winner says his hookah was spiked with cannabis without his knowledge

Photo by: William Kaptein/Facebook

South African distance runner William Kaptein made history earlier this year as the first local winner of Cape Town’s Two Oceans Half-Marathon since 1998, but his victory will likely be erased.

On Monday, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) announced that Kaptein had received a one-month suspension after an in-competition doping test detected cannabis in his urine sample.

Under the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2025 Prohibited List, cannabinoids are banned during competition, meaning athletes cannot have the substance present on race day.

The 32-year-old wrote on Facebook that the positive test came as a shock.

“Two nights before my race, I smoked hookah [flavoured tobacco] at a party, as I often do in social settings, but I later learned the hookah had been spiked with weed without my knowledge,” wrote Kaptein. “I never imagined something like this could happen.”

Kaptein won the 20.6 km race (on a shortened course) in 64:41, edging South African half-marathon champion Bennett Seloyi by two seconds.

According to the race’s website, the Two Oceans Half-Marathon enforces an anti-doping policy in line with WADA and SAIDS standards.

While cannabis is legal in South Africa for personal use, elite athletes are expected to comply with anti-doping regulations and understand the rules.

Kaptein’s initial three-month sanction was reduced to one month after he reportedly completed a SAIDS-run substance abuse treatment program.

Cannabis is not considered a performance-enhancing drug, but some athletes use it for the perceived benefits in mood and recovery.

In 2021, WADA revised its code on THC, allowing for reduced sanctions if athletes prove their use occurred out of competition and was unrelated to performance.

The change came after U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s high-profile suspension ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which cost her a spot at the Games and her U.S. outdoor 100m title.

In 2023, the NCAA removed cannabis from its banned substance list altogether.

Kaptein said the doping suspension taught him to be more “mindful” of his surroundings.

“I’ve learned my lesson and am back in competition now, feeling motivated and ready to move forward. Next year, I’ll be back for that race again.”