Randolph Ross: American sprint star and Olympic gold medalist suspended for three years

American sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Randolph Ross has been suspended for three years for “whereabouts failures” and falsifying an email to anti-doping authorities.

The Athletics Integrity Unit announced Tuesday that the North Carolina A&T back-to-back NCAA champion will be suspended until June 30, 2025, meaning he will be ineligible for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ross was provisionally suspended on the eve of his 400-meter preliminary race at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on July 16, about a month after authorities failed to find him to take a drug test — his third residence error in a period of 12 months.

Ross is also the back-to-back NCAA champion; he is pictured during the event on June 10, 2022

Ross then provided a copy of an automated email from the whereabouts system that showed he had provided new contact information, but he later admitted to manipulating it when questioned by AIU representatives, the unit said.

Ross won his second straight 400-meter title at the NCAA Championships on June 10.

When his suspension was announced Tuesday, it was confirmed that his results are no longer valid as of June 18, meaning he is still the NCAA’s back-to-back champion.

Ross (right) did not run in the final of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but was still awarded a medal

After his three-year suspension, he can now not participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

Ross won an Olympic gold medal as part of the 4x400m team at the 2021 Tokyo Games, although he did not compete in the final. In the 400 he was eliminated in the heats in Tokyo.

His Olympic gold, and those won by his teammates in the 4×400, will not be affected as they are outside the period of his whereabouts errors.

As reported by the BBC, AIU head Brett Clothier said: ‘It is fundamental to the good governance of the sport that athletes are honest in their dealings with the AIU during any investigation.’