Six years in the cold for promising Anyango in doping debacle

Kenya's cross country prodigy Emmaculate Anyango has been banned for six years following her positive doping test for testosterone and the blood-boosting hormone EPO.

The 24-year-old, who became the second woman to complete a 10km race in under 29 minutes when she clocked 28:57 in Valencia in January, had been provisionally suspended last month.

Mary Moraa lists expected career impact after joining Grand Slam Track

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Anyango said she did not know how EPO and metabolites of testosterone were found in her system ,but admitted she had been injected during treatment at several hospitals after she had fainted.

The AIU added that Anyango failed to respond to the charge before the Nov. 1 deadline, which waived her right to a hearing, while multiple samples testing positive for banned substances ultimately led to a longer ban.

Her ban is effective from 26 September and all her results since 3 February have been disqualified.

The case: 

On 3 February 2024, Anyango provided a urine Sample In-Competition at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour in Eldoret, Kenya(the "First Urine Sample").

On 13 March 2024, she provided a urine Sample Out-of-Competition in Iten, Kenya (the "Second Urine Sample").

On 2 June 2024, she provided a urine Sample Out-of-Competition in Kericho, Kenya(the "Third Urine Sample).

On 16 June 2024, she provided a urine Sample (the Fourth Urine Sample) and a blood Sample (the Blood Sample") provided Out-of- Competition in Iten, Kenya. 

Adverse Analytical Findings were reported by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland with all samples revealing the presence of Metabolites of Testosterone, specifically, Sa-androstane-3017 dial (Saadio) and 5-androstane 30.17 diol SaAdiol), consistent with exogenous origin. 

"Analysis of the Fourth Urine Sample and the Blood Sample revealed the presence. of erythropoietin (EPO) (the "Fourth Adverse Analytical Finding)," the report reads. 

It continues, "The AIU reviewed the Adverse Analytical Findings in accordance with Article 5 of the International Standard for Results Management ("ISRM) and determined that the athlete did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) that had been granted (or that would be granted) for the SaAdiol and SpAdial consistent with exogenous origin or EPO found in the respective Samples: and there was no apparent departure from the International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI) or from the International Standard for Laboratories ("ISL") that could reasonably have caused the Adverse Analytical Findings.

On 26 September 2024, she was notified of the findings and of the imposition of an immediate Provisional Suspension.

The Notice of Allegation also included a written Demand for the Athlete to attend an interview with the AIU (by video conference) to provide her explanation.

Edwin Kurgat leads Kenyan 1-2 as Chelangat settles for silver in Austin

On 27 September 2024, the Athlete attended an interview with AIU representatives by video conference and provided her explanation in relation to the Adverse Analytical Findings and alleged Anti-Doping Rule Violations.

"The athlete stated in interview that she admitted that EPO and Metabolites of Testosterone consistent with exogenous origin were found in the Samples that were collected from her; she did not know how the EPO and Metabolites of Testosterone consistent with exogenous origin came to be in her system," the summary states. 

Anyango claims to have had a medical condition for which she had been taken to and treated at various hospitals including Iten Mission Hospital, St Luke's Hospital, Eldoret Hospital and Chembulet Hospital on several occasions after she had fainted.

She claimee that she did not know what she had been injected with during her treatment at these hospitals because she did not remember being there and only discovered that she had been treated there after she had returned home. 

She had receipts for her hospital treatment; and insisted that she had not deliberately taken or injected any prohibited substances. She submitted several receipts from medical facilities and photos of X-ray scans to the AIU.

"The AlU reviewed those documents and remained satisfied that none of them explained the presence of EPO or Metabolites of Testosterone consistent with exogenous origin in the Athlete's Samples. The AlU therefore remained satisfied that the Athlete had committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations as set out in the Rules," it states. 

The AlU invited her to respond to the Charge confirm how she wished to proceed, Anyango missing several deadlines and failed to sign and return the Admission Form by the 7 November 2024 deadline, leading to her six-year ban.