Kenyan Marathoner slapped with three-year doping ban

• Kacheran will be suspended until 2025
• His sample tested positive for testosterone
• He had been suspended from July

Kenyan marathoner Philemon Kacheran has been handed a three-year doping ban by the Athletics Integrity Unit after he admitted to the presence/prohibited use of Testosterone.

According to the AIU, the World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the Sample for the presence of Testosterone and its Metabolites2 consistent with exogenous origin.

After these findings, the Kenyan was handed a suspension just as he was preparing to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and now, with hearings concluded, a guilty verdict has been passed on him and he will now be ineligible to compete until 2025, July.

He was set to be handed a four-year ban, but a year was reduced from the standard time as he had accepted the rule violation.

“On 12 September 2022, the Athlete returned a signed Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form confirming that he admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations and accepted the asserted period of Ineligibility,” a statement from the AIU read.

One year reduction to ban

It added; “The Athlete shall therefore receive a one (1) year reduction in the asserted period of Ineligibility pursuant to Rule 10.8.1 based on an early admission and acceptance of sanction.”

The AIU reviewed the Adverse Analytical Finding and determined that the Athlete did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption that had been granted for the Testosterone an its metabolites found in the Sample.

Kacheran was subsequently informed of the results on July 8, just over three weeks before competing at the Commonwealth Games where he had been selected to represent Team Kenya and given an opportunity to file responses.

He requested for an extension of the week-long deadline given and was handed an extension to August 29. He then made his responses, admitting to the Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

Kacheran trains in Kaptagat with Eliud Kipchoge’s NN Running team. Commenting on the increased cases of doping in the country during an interview on NTV’s Sport On, Kipchoge said that young athletes should not be driven to shortcuts.

No shortcut to success

“There is no shortcut to success. You have to work for it and earn it. Many people want quick success and that is why they resort to doping. Our young athletes should learn that you have to work for success and not be driven just by money,” Kipchoge said.

There has been an increase in the number of Kenyans caught out in the anti-doping web. Just last month, Felix Kipchumba and Emmanuel Saina, also marathoners, were both handed three year bans by the AIU.

Lilian Kasait is another high profile Kenyan athlete to suffer the brunt of AIU policing, having been handed a nine month ban, also last month. She was banned for using Letrozole, which is a prohibited substance.

Also last month, Vane Nyaboke Nyanamba was handed a hefy ban for seven years and 4 months from 29 August 2021 for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone) and Tampering with part of Doping Control.