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Track and field athletes usually shake hands after races. They congratulate each other, show some respect – it’s part of the sport’s culture.
That’s not what happened to Seth Clevenger on Friday at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Clevenger crossed the finish line first in the 5,000 meters, clocking 13:35:55 and setting a new meet record. When he stepped onto the podium to receive his trophy, his fellow competitors walked off and left him standing there alone.
Everyone on the podium just walked off. https://t.co/0o5bPz3Fil pic.twitter.com/hNPj7ppdGJ
— Alex Predhome, Track and Field Enjoyer (@Predamame) March 14, 2026
The Doping Allegations
The hostility wasn’t random.
Clevenger started his college career at Iowa State – a Division I powerhouse. He was suspended from the team earlier this season for reasons the school didn’t disclose publicly. The New Jersey native then transferred back home to compete for Division III’s Rowan University, where he just won a national championship.
According to two of his former Iowa State teammates, the suspension came after alleged performance-enhancing drug use.
Two former teammates of Seth Clevenger from his days at Iowa State told LetsRun.com that during the 2025 cross country season, Clevenger admitted to them that he used a peptide, which is a banned substance under NCAA rules.
Here’s the complication – Clevenger never failed a drug test. And because the NCAA isn’t bound to the World Anti-Doping Code, he’s remained eligible to compete.
Since arriving at Rowan, he’s dominated Division III competition. Friday’s championship was just the latest example.
Athletes Push Back
Emmanuel Leblond, the Division III cross country champion from Johns Hopkins, started a petition calling for an investigation into Clevenger. More than 600 athletes have signed it.
The petition points to “documented doping allegations” and demands Clevenger be barred from competing “without a public resolution.” Leblond references video evidence and screenshots of receipts supposedly linked to Clevenger’s purchase of banned substances. He also cites Clevenger’s alleged admission to using an illegal substance after his final Iowa State performance.
Despite the allegations and the growing athlete backlash, Clevenger remains eligible. He’s an NCAA champion, at least for now.
His competitors have made it clear where they stand on the situation.
