Zane Robertson (born 14 November 1989) is a New Zealand long-distance runner. He is known for winning a bronze medal in the 5000 metres at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and for holding several New Zealand national records in various long-distance events. Robertson's career was significantly impacted by an eight-year ban from competition in 2023 for an anti-doping rule violation.
Early Life and Career Born in Hamilton, New Zealand, Zane Robertson, along with his identical twin brother Jake Robertson, moved to Iten, Kenya, at the age of 17 to immerse themselves in the East African running culture and train alongside elite Kenyan athletes. This unusual move gained significant media attention and was seen as a bold step to achieve their athletic potential.
Achievements Robertson specialized in distances from 5000 metres to the half marathon.
- Commonwealth Games: His most notable achievement was winning a bronze medal in the 5000 metres at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with a time of 13:16.52.
- National Records: He set several New Zealand national records, including:
- 10,000 metres (27:45.11)
- Half Marathon (59:47) – becoming the first New Zealander to break the 60-minute barrier.
- 5000 metres indoors (13:21.05)
- Other Races: He competed at multiple World Championships and Olympic Games, often finishing as the top New Zealander.
Doping Violation and Ban In May 2022, Robertson tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a prohibited performance-enhancing substance, following a blood test. He subsequently received an eight-year ban from all sports, imposed by the Sports Anti-Doping Disciplinary Tribunal in New Zealand, which began in March 2023. Robertson initially claimed that he had been injected with EPO as part of a COVID-19 vaccine administered in Kenya, a claim that was rejected by the tribunal as implausible. He also had a previous doping violation in 2020 which resulted in a warning. The extensive ban effectively ended his professional running career.
Personal Life Zane Robertson is the identical twin brother of fellow elite long-distance runner Jake Robertson. The brothers trained together for many years in Kenya.