Lawrence Cherono, a 35-year-old Kenyan marathon runner, has been banned for seven years after multiple anti-doping violations were confirmed.
Cherono, well-known for his success in the Boston and Chicago marathons, was suspended by The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) following an investigation that began on May 23, 2022, after Cherono provided a urine sample outside of the competition in Kaptagat, Kenya.
Cherono initially claimed that he had been treated for stomach problems with an injection by a doctor, which he later retracted, stating it was a mix-up with his wife’s medication.
According to AIU, the sample, identified as 1032656, was discovered to contain Trimetazidine, a banned substance categorized under S4 Hormone and Metabolic Modulators in the 2022 Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The AIU confirmed that Cherono did not possess a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for Trimetazidine and that no deviations from international testing standards contributed to the adverse analytical finding.
The starting date for the ban is July 1, 2022, and Cherono’s results from May 23, 2022, will be disqualified and he will have to forfeit any medals, titles, awards, points, prizes, prize money, and appearance money.
Subsequently, on July 14, 2022, the AIU issued a Notice of Allegation to Cherono in Eugene, Oregon, United States, allowing him to request a B Sample analysis, provide an explanation for the positive test, and potentially benefit from a reduced period of ineligibility if he admitted to the violations.
His Wife’s Involvement
Cherono initially claimed that he had been treated for stomach problems with an injection by a doctor, which he later retracted, stating it was a mix-up with his wife’s medication.
The AIU’s thorough investigation revealed inconsistencies and identified that Cherono had submitted misleading and falsified documents to support his claims.
The Clinic involved also confirmed that the submitted medical documents were not genuine and that there were no records corroborating Cherono’s claims regarding his wife’s treatment.
On May 11, 2023, the athlete visited a clinic alone at 15:50 and left at 16:50 empty-handed, as per surveillance. However, an email sent at 19:23 on the same day from the athlete to his wife requested disclosure of her “medical report dated 18/05/2022 at Wayside clinic,” raising suspicions. The email also confirmed that his wife visited the clinic the following day at 13:00 EAT.
“The Athlete was then observed leaving the Clinic at 16:50 with nothing in his possession. The Athlete’s email confirmed that the hand his wife visited that Clinic the following day at 13:00 EAT.”
After the Clinic failed to comply with multiple summons for medical records, the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) sought a court order from the Chief Magistrates Court in Eldoret, which was granted on March 11.
Despite this, the Clinic confirmed the non-existence of the relevant records and the forgery of previously submitted documents. Consequently, on June 12, the AIU issued a Notice of Charge to Cherono for violations under Rule 2.1 (Presence), Rule 2.2 (Use), and Rule 2.5 (Tampering or Attempted Tampering) of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR).
Some Little Reprieve
Cherono was initially given four years of ineligibility for the presence of a prohibited substance and an additional four years for tampering with the doping control process.
However, the total period was reduced by one year following Cherono’s admission of the violations and acceptance of the consequences on June 26. Thus, Cherono will serve a seven-year ban, backdated to his provisional suspension, making him ineligible to compete until 2029.
Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, emphasized the importance of this decision: “This decision is a testament to the tireless and persistent efforts of the AIU in investigating doping and the explanations provided for positive tests. The AIU will leave no stone unturned in carrying out its mandate.” He added that the ban “sends a strong signal” to anyone considering breaking the rules.
Cherono has the option to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.
