The Anti-Doping body Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has provisionally suspended two Kenyan marathoners for the violation of doping regulations.
In a statement released on Friday, Diana Kipyokei and Betty Wilson Lempus have been charged with various breaches of the World Athletics Anti- Doping Rules (ADR), further stretching the list of suspended athletes for similar charges from the country lately.
These alleged anti-doping rule violations stem from probes into the information provided by the athletes to explain Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) for metabolites of triamcinolone acetonide in samples they provided during in-competition tests last year.
Both athletes were questioned about their AAF, and their respective explanations (including supporting documentation) were subjected to detailed investigation by the AIU, with vital assistance from the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK). Ultimately, the AIU’s findings led to the charges being announced on Friday.
Kipyokei’s sample was collected on 11 October 2021, following her victory in the Boston Marathon. She faces the following charges:
-Presence of a prohibited substance, namely a metabolite of triamcinolone acetonide (pursuant to Rule 2.1 ADR)
-Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control (pursuant to Rule 2.5 ADR), including obstructing or delaying the AIU’s investigation through the provision of false information or documentation.
In the event that the alleged violation for the presence of a prohibited substance is proven, Kipyokei would be disqualified as the winner of the 2021 Boston Marathon.
Lempus’ sample was taken on 5 September 2021, after she won the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris. The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) initially cleared the athlete of an anti- doping rule violation for the presence of a metabolite of triamcinolone acetonide following the receipt of her explanation for the AAF.
However, upon consultation with the AFLD, the AIU conducted an investigation into the explanation provided by Lempus which has now resulted in the following charge:
-Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control (pursuant to Rule 2.5 ADR), including obstructing or delaying the AIU’s investigation through the provision of false information or documentation.
The AIU has informed the AFLD of the outcome of this investigation so they may take any necessary action within their authority.
Triamcinolone acetonide is a Prohibited Substance under the WADA Prohibited List under the category S9: Glucocorticoids. It is a substance prohibited in-competition when administered via certain routes.* Glucocorticoids are commonly used as therapeutic Substances in sports, but are prohibited in-competition because, when administered via prohibited routes, there is clear evidence of systemic effects which could potentially enhance performance and be harmful to health.
The use of glucocorticoids by an athlete during the in-competition period requires a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) or proof that administration is not via a prohibited route. If an athlete returns an AAF to a glucocorticoid and cannot produce a TUE, or prove a non-prohibited route of administration, they will have committed an anti-doping rule violation.
The two cases are part of a recent trend in Kenyan athletics regarding triamcinolone acetonide, with ten Kenyan athletes testing positive for that prohibited substance between 2021 and 2022. Within the same time period in athletics globally, there have been just two positive triamcinolone acetonide AAFs for athletes from all other countries. In the four years from 2017 to 2020, there were only three Kenyan AAFs for triamcinolone acetonide. Yesterday, the AIU announced that it had banned Mark Kangogo – the initial winner of the Sierre-Zinal 2022 mountain race in Switzerland – for three years for the presence of triamcinolone acetonide in his sample.
In addition to the Kipyokei, Lempus and Kangogo cases, the AIU currently has four open investigations into AAFs for triamcinolone acetonide for Kenyan athletes; with two matters pending with ADAK.
World Athletics
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