Lawrence Cherono, a Kenyan marathon runner, was banned for seven years for breaking anti-doping regulations.
Following the four years for testing positive for a prohibited substance, the 35-year-old athlete was also handed four years for trying to obstruct or distort the inquiry, which was shortened by one year for early admission and acceptance of the penalty.
In July 2022, Cherono was placed on temporary suspension following a positive test result for the cardiac drug trimetazidine (TMZ). Unfortunately, he won’t be permitted to compete until 2029 because the ban is relevant to his first suspension.
On Cherono changing the story
The former Chicago and Boston marathon winner initially blamed the positive test result on an injection he received from a physician for stomach pain treatments. Cherono then altered his narrative, claiming that his wife’s prescription had been mixed up.
“This decision is testament to the tireless and persistent efforts of the AIU in investigating doping and the explanations provided for positive tests,” the Head of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Brett Clothier said.
He added: “The AIU will leave no stone unturned in carrying out its mandate.”
In other related news, Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for TMZ just before the 2022 Winter Olympics, leading to a four-year ban earlier this year. Moreover, the China Anti-Doping Agency concluded that 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the drug in 2021 were able to compete at the Tokyo Games because they had accidentally consumed the substance through contamination.
Source: BBC