LAWRENCE Cherono, once the world’s top-ranked marathon runner, has been handed a seven-year ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for multiple anti-doping violations. The 35-year-old Kenyan athlete, who has won two major marathons and is the 12th fastest marathon runner in history, admitted to three Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs).
The AIU found Cherono guilty of using the prohibited substance Trimetazidine, detected in an out-of-competition test on May 23, 2022. Trimetazidine, classified as a hormone and metabolic modulator, is known to enhance athletes’ endurance and recovery time.
In addition to the doping offence, Cherono was charged with tampering with the doping control process. He initially provided false explanations for his positive test, including blaming jealous training partners. Later, he claimed his wife had accidentally given him Trimetazidine instead of painkillers.
To support his story, Cherono submitted medical documents purportedly from a local clinic. However, a joint investigation by the AIU and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) revealed these documents were fraudulent. The clinic’s director confirmed the papers were not genuine, and subsequent court-ordered searches found no records of the alleged treatment for Cherono’s wife.
Brett Clothier, Head of the AIU, commented on the case: “This decision is testament to the tireless and persistent efforts of the AIU in investigating doping and the explanations provided for positive tests. This has been an exhaustive process, taking two years and requiring a lot of resources, but thanks to determined investigative efforts and valuable collaboration with ADAK, we have been able to uncover the truth.”
Cherono received a four-year ban for the presence and use of a prohibited substance, and an additional four-year ban for tampering. However, due to his eventual admission and acceptance of the sanction, the total ban was reduced to seven years.
The ban is backdated to July 16, 2022, when Cherono was provisionally suspended. This case serves as a stark reminder of the AIU’s commitment to maintaining integrity in athletics and deterring drug cheats in the sport.
