On October 16th, Titus Ekiru, a kenyan marathoner was banned for 10 years on allegations of doping. Barely a week later, Daisy Cherotich has been found guilty of the same offence. She has however been hit with a four year suspension.
Cherotich provided her urine samples on January 11th this year. According to Athletics Integrity Unit, the samples tested positive for erythropoietin. This is a medical stimulant and an oxygen booster. Therefore, it’s a banned substance in Athletics.
The Integrity Unit notified Cherotich about their findings on February 21st. She was then directed to explain about the findings in a month and provide copies of her laboratory findings.
The athlete did not respond to the request by AIU within the specified period(a month). Therefore after the deadline, AIU had to release a statement.
“On March 1, 2023, the AIU exceptionally granted the Athlete an extension until March 6, 2023, to provide her reply to the Notice of Allegation. She was reminded inter alia that in the absence of a response by March 6, 2023, she would be deemed to have waived her right to the Sample analysis and to have accepted the Adverse Analytical Finding.”
The Unit gave her a window of appeal which she failed to respond. This prompted the AIU to serve her with a Notice Of Charge. This informs an athlete that he/she is guilty of doping which attracts a 4-year ban.
However, Cherotich replied a day before the deadline with a letter of admission. She admitted to have violated the anti-doping rules and accepted the consequences.
“On July 16, 2023, the AIU received an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form signed by the Athlete.”
She becomes the second athlete to receive a ban from the international body. This will make her ineligible to participate in any marathons till her ban is lifted.
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