Kenyan athlete banned for seven years

Last year’s PKO Poznań Half Marathon winner, Kenya’s Tabitha Wambui has been banned handed a seven-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for testing positive for Norandrosterone, a metabolite of Nandrolone, which is a prohibited substance under the World Antidoping Code.

The 38-year-old on 19 September 2021provided a urine Sample, In-Competition, at the Copenhagen Half Marathon in Denmark, which was the first sample. On 17 October 2021, she provided another In-Competition sample at the PKO Poznań Half Marathon.

On 18 October 2021, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Oslo, Norway reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the First Sample for the presence of metabolites of Nandrolone.

On 22 October 2021, the AIU via her manager received an Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form signed by the Athlete.

Five days later, her manager wrote to the AIU asserting that Wambui had received medical treatment on 15 September 2021 and that this medical treatment should be considered in the final decision in this matter. The Manager also enclosed a medical certificate in corroboration.

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However, AIU, in their response, argued that the medical documents submitted failed to establish how the Metabolites had entered the Athlete’s system because none of the referenced medication appeared to contain Nandrolone or a Nandrolone precursor.

Further evidence and a revoking of the Acceptance Form to conduct further investigation was requested which was granted. Wambui presented a medical document from the Kiambu Level 5 Hospital which recorded three separate visits by the Athlete on 12 February 2021, 6 April 2021 and 26 May 2021.

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According to the medical document, Wambui had been injected with Nandrolone (“Deca”) (i.e., Deca Durabolin) on 6 April 2021 to treat a headache and general body weakness and on 26 May 2021 to treat abdominal pain and loss of appetite.

AIU asked for ADAK’s assistance in investigating the matter and it was established that the athlete did not attend the hospital on the specified dates as there were no records of the visits.

Wambui will serve four years for the presence/use of a prohibited substance and four years for tampering or attempted tampering to be served consecutively. However, a deduction of one year was effected based on an early admission and acceptance of sanction.

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Her results since 19 September 2021 have also been disqualified with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money.