In a significant blow to Kenya’s running community, long-distance athlete Daisy Cherotich has been slapped with a four-year suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). This verdict closely follows another Kenyan runner, Titus Ekiru, receiving a ten-year ban, both athletes facing severe consequences due to doping allegations.
The AIU’s decision came after Cherotich’s urine sample, taken on January 11, 2023, tested positive for erythropoietin, a banned medical stimulant that enhances oxygen levels. Despite ample opportunities to defend her case, Cherotich failed to respond within the stipulated timeframe provided by AIU.
Ignoring the warning, she was deemed to have accepted the adverse analytical finding, leading to the issuance of a Notice of Charge for violating Anti-Doping Regulations.
Cherotich’s case mirrors the alarming trend seen with fellow athlete Titus Ekiru, whose ban was a result of the Presence of Prohibited Substances (Triamcinolone Acetonide and metabolite; Pethidine and metabolite) and Tampering.
Ekiru’s suspension was handed down after he tested positive for banned substances during two international victories: the Generali Milano Marathon on 16 May 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Marathon on 26 November 2021.
The gravity of Ekiru’s situation was exacerbated by his collusion with a doctor at a Kenyan hospital to forge medical documents, a desperate attempt to mislead the anti-doping authorities. AIU’s firm stance underscores their commitment to maintaining the integrity of athletics and ensuring a level playing field for all competitors.
This double blow serves as a stark reminder of the consequences athletes face when they succumb to the lure of performance-enhancing drugs. As the sporting world watches these Kenyan stars fall from grace, it raises questions about the pressures faced by elite athletes and the measures necessary to preserve the purity of competitive sports.
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