Mphuthi was one of two athletes who faced disqualification and sanctions for doping-related offences after the 2015 edition of the 89km race in KwaZulu-Natal.
The veteran athlete had returned an adverse analytical finding for the anobolic steroid nandrolone following his second-place finish at the 50km Loskop ultra-marathon in 2014, and his temporary sanction had not been lifted when he took sixth place at Comrades.
After facing a hearing, however, Mphuthi was cleared by the panel to keep his gold medal and R30 000 cash incentive.
The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) appealed the decision, and while the appeal was upheld and Mphuthi received a two-year ban for the doping offence, the beginning of his suspension was extended by 15 months due to an apparent technical issue.
“The start of the sanction is now from 8 July 2015 instead of 12 April 2014,” said Saids chief executive Khalid Galant.
It was unclear why Mphuthi, a member of the Sibanya Gold Beatrix Mine Athletic Club, had been given a lengthy grace period by the appeal panel and allowed to compete under suspension, denying 12th-placed Ben Matiso a gold medal and prize money for 10th position.
