Kenyan long-distance runner Dickson Kimeli Cheruiyot has been handed a six year ban for doping.
This comes after the 39-year-old tested positive for the use of multiple prohibited substances namely: Epitrenbolone, and recombinant Erythropoietin (rEPO). In a detailed decision by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Thursday, 3 September, Cheruiyot is said to have returned the positive test on an in-competition urine sample at the ‘Marathon Cucuta Metropolitana’ held in San Jose de Cucuta, Colombia on 22 March.
A few days later on 20 April, a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, USA reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the sample, prompting AIU to notify Cheruiyot about the result and relevant steps on 19 June.
The Kenyan, however, failed to respond to the notice by 26 June, with AIU deeming him to have irrevocably waived his right to the analysis of the B Sample.Satisfied that Cheruiyot had committed an anti-doping rule violation, AIU on 10 July issued him with a Notice of Charge detailing the potential ramifications, to which the athlete failed to respond too.Therefore, on 4 August, the AIU wrote to Cheruiyot noting that he had not responded to the Notice of Charge, had failed to request a hearing (and was deemed to have waived his right to request a hearing), and was deemed to have admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and accepted the consequences set out in the Notice of Charge.
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Being a first-time offender, the standard charge of four years of ineligibility was applied to Cheruiyot, but was also added two more years, having met the criteria for “aggravated circumstances”, with clear evidence showing the athlete’s use of multiple prohibited substances.All his results on and since 22 March were hence disqualified, with his ban commencing on the date of his provisional suspension (19 June).Mutiso, Chepkirui targeting repeat at this year’s Great North RunAt the same time, another Kenyan athlete, Emmanuel Wafula, was handed a provisional suspension, for the Presence/Use of prohibited substance Testosterone.The 2023 Africa U20 champion was issued his Notice of Allegation on 22 July.