Another championship another Kenyan drug cheat: marathon runner Cherono suspended

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has today provisionally suspended Kenyan marathon runner Lawrence Cherono, putting him out of the World Athletics Championships currently ongoing in Oregon.

Cherono headlined the marathon team to Oregon for the Wolrd Champs that also consisted of Barnabas Kiptum and Geoffrey Kamworor.

In a statement, on Saturday, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) noted that Cherono tested positive for trimetazidine, a substance in a category that modifies how the body metabolizes fat.

Excerpt from the AIU statement;

A sample collected from Lawrence Cherono tested positive for trimetazidine, a substance that is prohibited under the 2022 WADA Prohibited List as a metabolic modulator. Substances in this category modify how the body metabolizes fat. Trimetazidine is approved for use in some countries to treat chest pain stemming from a lack of blood supply and oxygen to the heart. Trimetazidine is a non-specified substance, and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such a substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules unless certain conditions apply.

The AIU collected the sample from Mr Cherono during an out-of-competition test on 23 May 2022. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratory in Lausanne that analysed the sample received it on 27 May 2002 and notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding on 13 July 2022. Mr Cherono was travelling to Eugene at this time and was notified of the adverse analytical finding when he arrived in Eugene on 14 July 2022. In accordance with the Rules, the athlete was provided with an opportunity to show cause to the AIU why he should not be provisionally suspended.

Having considered the submission of Mr Cherono, received late on 15 July, the AIU has determined that a provisional suspension should apply with immediate effect and Mr Cherono will not take part in the marathon on 17 July.

The AIU notes that under the WADA International Standard for Laboratories, reporting of sample results should occur within twenty (20) days of receipt of the sample. In this case, the delay to the time of reporting was 47 days. The AIU has made a formal complaint to the laboratory in relation to this unacceptable delay, which has denied the opportunity for another Kenyan athlete to take the place of Mr Cherono in the marathon.

With the Valencia Marathon champion out of contention in Oregon, Kiptum and Kamworor will shield the burden of delivering medals for Team Kenya on Sunday.