Two more Kenyans banned by World Athletics for doping cases

Kenya has once again been handed a massive blow by World Athletics as two of its athletes Felix Kipchumba Korir and Emmanuel Saina were banned for three years after being found culpable of using prohibited substance Norandrosterone.

In a detailed statement released by Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), whose role is to protect the integrity of the sport of Athletics, Korir and Saina were found to have committed the doping offense after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland reported an adverse analytical finding in the sample of the athletes taken.

After reviewing the adverse analytical finding, it was determined that the athletes did not have a Theraupeutic Use Exemption and that there was no apparent departure from the International Standard for Testing and Investigations or from the International Standard for Laboratories that could have caused the adverse Analytical finding consequently leading to the anti-doping rule violation.

“On 6 September 2022, the World Anti-Doping Agency ("WADA") accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland (the "Laboratory") reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the Sample based on the presence of 19-Norandrosterone ("Norandrosterone") greater than 15ng/mL (the "Adverse Analytical Finding").

Therefore, on 9 September 2022, the AIU notified the Athlete of the Adverse Analytical Finding in accordance with Article 5.1.2.1 of the ISRM, including that the Adverse Analytical Finding may result in Anti-Doping Rule Violations pursuant to Rule 2.1 ADR and/or Rule 2.2 ADR and of the imposition of an immediate Provisional Suspension,” the statement read.

After being notified of the adverse analytical finding, Korir accepted admission of anti-doping and also sent an acceptance of the consequence form.

According to the 2022 WADA Prohibited List, Norandrosterone is a non-specified substance prohibited at all times and anyone found using it attracts a four-year period of ineligibility.

However, Korir’s ban was reduced to three years after benefiting from a one-year reduction in the period of ineligibity based on early admission and acceptance of sanction.

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"10.8.1: Where the Integrity Unit notifies an Athlete or other Person of an anti-doping rule violation charge that carries an asserted period of Ineligibility of four (4) or more years (including any period of Ineligibility asserted under Rule 10.4).

If the Athlete or other Person admits the violation and accepts the asserted period of Ineligibility no later than 20 days after receiving the Notice of Charge, the Athlete or other Person may receive a one (1) year reduction in the period of Ineligibility asserted by the Integrity Unit.

Kenyan athlete banned for seven years

Where the Athlete or other Person receives the one (1) year reduction in the asserted period of ineligibility under this Rule 10.8.1, no further reduction in the asserted period of Ineligibility will be allowed under any other Rule."

The athletes results since August 2017 with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, point prizes and appearance money.