Sarah Chepchirchir banned for eight years after second doping violation

Kenyan marathoner Sarah Chepchirchir has been slapped with an eight year doping ban after testing positive for the presence of Testosterone - a Prohibited Substance under the WADA 2023 Prohibited List.

The announcement, published by the Athletics Integrity Unit on Tuesday 13 February, is the second doping violation the 39 year old has been charged with, and sees the disqualification of her results on and since 5 November 2023.

Chepchirchir had previously served a period of Ineligibility of four years from 6 February 2019 to 5 February 2023 for abnormal values in the hematological module of her Athlete Biological Passport.

With the recent charge, she will now be out of the sport till earliest 21 December 2031.

AIU reports that on 5 November 2023, an In-Competition urine sample was provided by Chepchirchir at the Bangsaen42 Chonburi Marathon in Chonburi, Thailand, that returned a positive test - presence of metabolite testosterone.

With the Unit establishing that the 2017 Tokyo Marathon champion didn’t harbor any Therapeutic Use Exception to using the substance, and that there was no apparent departure from the International Standard for Testing and Investigations, a Notice of Allegation of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and a Provisional Suspension were sent to Chepchirchir, who didn’t offer any response by the 5 January 2024 deadline.

AIU went ahead to email the athlete that if she failed to respond to the Notice of Allegation by 10 January 2024, then they would issue a Notice of Charge, by which she didn't respond either.

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A notice of charge was thereby sent on 22 January, and with no response in regards to how Chepchirchir wished to progress with the charge, AIU on 9 February made the decision to penalize her with an eight year ban, with no year reduction since there was no admission to using the banned substance.

At the same time, India’s hammer thrower Kumari (K.M.) Rachna was banned for 12 years for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Stanozolol, Metandienone, DHCMT, Clenbuterol).

Her case back dates from 24 November 2023.