Kenyan marathoner Gikunga Karanja banned for four years following positive test

Kenyan marathoner James Gikunga Karanja has been handed a four-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit for the presence and use of a Prohibited Substance (19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone, Nandrolone).

The announcement, released on Friday 26 January, follows a period of suspension dating 6 November, where he was among a group of nine athletes provisionally suspended for separate doping offenses.

His subsequent ban, as detailed by AIU, comes after the 32-year-old returned an Adverse Analytical Finding from his urine Sample Competition at the ‘Scenic Half Marathon’ in Krabi, Thailand on 10 September 2023.

Though given a deadline to respond to the finding, it is reported that Gikunga did not respond by the set deadline on 16 October 2023, forcing AIU to extend the date to 19 October, when he didn’t report either.

On 13 November 2023, AIU issued a Notice of Charge to the Athlete that didn’t gather any response by 20 November, the same way it didn’t even after further extension till 27 November.

AIU resulted in on 21 November, writing to Athletics Kenya requesting assistance in contacting the athlete, a move that later proved futile.

Though under suspension, it was discovered that Gikunga, an Alor Setar Half Marathon winner last April, had competed in the Tropical Rainforest Run, in Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, Malaysia on 26 November 2023.

On 4 December 2023, AIU wrote to the Athlete by email noting that he had failed to respond to any correspondence in an apparent violation of the prohibition of participation during Provisional Suspension, and noted that if any period of Ineligibility was ultimately imposed upon the athlete, then he may receive no credit for the period of Provisional Suspension against the period of Ineligibility.

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He, again didn’t respond by 15 December, when he was deemed to have waived his right to a hearing, admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and accepted the consequences specified in the Notice of Charge.

His period of Ineligibility was thus set at four (4) years commencing on 25 January 2024 until 24 January 2028, plus the disqualification of all results on and since 10 September 2023.