Who would have thought last weekend's NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama would produce so much drama? After Seth Clevenger of Rowan University won the men's 5,000m final by nearly 30 seconds, the athletes who finished second through eighth refused to take the official podium photo with him. Instead, they stepped aside and took their own photo, which appeared to be a protest against his eligibility.
Last year Clevenger was suspended by his former team, Iowa State University, after being implicated in an alleged doping scandal. Two of his former Iowa State teammates told reporters that during the 2025 cross‑country season Clevenger admitted to using illegal peptide substances to aid muscle recovery.
According to reports, that confession ledthe Iowa StateCyclones coaching staff to suspend him shortly after he ran what teammates called "the best race of his career." Another former teammate also claimed he saw multiple packages labeled "EPO" in Clevenger's refrigerator. EPO (erythropoietin) is a prohibited substance under World Anti‑Doping Agency (WADA) rules because it can enhance endurance performance by increasing the body’s oxygen‑carrying capacity.
Before Iowa State suspended multiple runners for violating team rules, Clevenger had competed in only one meet during the 2024–2025 season. The university never specified which athletes were suspended or explained the reason for the disciplinary action. But given the list of runners missing from subsequent meets, it was clear Clevenger was involved.
The U.S. Anti‑Doping Agency (USADA) opened an investigation into the alleged use of prohibited substances at Iowa State, but it had no jurisdiction in the matter because WADA rules do not apply to the NCAA.
Under NCAA rules, if an athlete transfers to another school, a suspension issued by the original team does not follow the athlete. Therefore, when Clevenger transferred to Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, he immediately became eligible to compete, which allowed him to enter and dominate the Division III championships last weekend.
The 22-year-old then led wire-to-wire in Saturday's race, winning the men's 3000 meters by more than 10 seconds. It was his second title of the meet, and other athletes on the podium again refused to stand beside him.
