'I don't remember how I doped'- banned Faith Chepchirchir drops bombshell

Barely a week after news of her provisional suspension was made public, fast-rising road racing ace Faith Chepchirchir Kiprotich has been banned for three years for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone).

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) published her Notice of Allegation, on Monday 23 December, and on Tuesday 7 January after two failed tests. 

The 23-year-old made AIU's job that much easier after she accepted the presence of the substance but in a bizarre rejoinder says she "could not remember how the substance entered her body." 

Kiprotich provided a urine sample in-competition at the CZ Tilburg Ten Miles held in Tilburg, Netherlands, on Sunday 29 September 2024 and another one on Sunday 6 October at the Hyundai Half Marathon held in Lisbon, Portugal.

On Friday 18 October 2024, the WADA-accredited laboratory in Ghent, Belgium reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the First Sample based on the presence of 19-Norandrosterone ("Norandrosterone) at a concentration above 15 ng/mL.

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Two months later (on Friday 20 December 2024), a similar outcome from her test in Lisbon. 

With no Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) that had been granted (or that would be granted) for the Norandrosterone found in the samples, Kiprotich was given the chance to explain as is required. 

She wrote to AIU on Sunday 5 January 2025 denying the use of the prohibited substance.

Given until no later than Thursday 9 January to provide any explanation for the Adverse Analytical Findings, she first asked for a deadline extension until Wednesday 15 January but wrote to the Unit on Wednesday 8 January stating that she accepted that the prohibited substance was found in her Samples, but that she could not remember how the substance entered her body.

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On Thursday 9 January, she informed the AIU that she accepted the consequences and also signed the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form hence her reduced sentence, by a year. 

Norandrosterone (resulting from an exogenous administration) is a Prohibited Substance under the WADA 2024 Prohibited List under the category S1.1 Anabolic Androgenic Steroids. It is a Non-Specified Substance prohibited at all times.