New York marathon champion, Wilson Kipsang misses dope test in Eldoret

New York marathon champion, Wilson Kipsang, will escape punishment in spite of him missing an out of competition dope test in November.

Athletics Kenya (AK) on Tuesday revealed Kipsang, 32, missed the test, days after he jetted in the country having won the New York Marathon on Nov. 2.

"Athletics Kenya would like to report that it has received communication from IAAF on the notification of a confirmed missed doping test for Wilson Kipsang. The notification followed an unsuccessful attempt to conduct an Out-of-Competition test on the athlete on November 11," said the statement from AK.

"The athlete was notified of the apparent missed test on Nov. 13. Following this the athlete was requested to give an explanation of the missed test, which was filed ten days later to the IAAF," it said. "Having reviewed the report and details of the test attempt, as well as the athletes response, the IAAF is satisfied that all criteria under IAAF Anti-Doping Regulations were met, and subsequently it has been determined that a Missed Test should be recorded against Kipsang."

This means that Kipsang now has only two chances of Missed Test, before he is declared to have failed the test.

"Since this is the first whereabouts failure to be evaluated under IAAF Rules, there will be no sanction imposed upon Kipsang," said the statement.

Kipsang, however, was cautioned and need to understand that an athlete shall be deemed to have committed an anti-doping rule violation if he commits a total of three.

Whereabouts Failures (which may be any combination of Filing Failures and/or Missed Tests adding up to three in total) within any 18 month period.

The statement said that the IAAF may rely on such tests, which have been declared by other Anti-Doping Organizations with jurisdiction over an athlete provided they have been declared based on rules that comply with the International Standard for Testing.

Efforts to contact Kipsang went futile as his phone was switched off. Recently, Kipsang missed a workshop in Machakos, which he had organized under the Professional Athletes Association of Kenya (PAAK), which he chairs saying he was busy studying for his criminology degree examination at the Mt. Kenya University.

"At this stage, the athlete is advised, in accordance with the IAAF Anti-Doping regulations, he has the right to request an administrative review. A written submission for the appeal must be received by December 24," said the statement.

Athletics Kenya also used the opportunity to remind all athletes in the Registered Testing Pool that it is their responsibility to provide IAAF with complete and accurate whereabouts information and updating those whereabouts should any change occur, which can be done at any time.

This can be done through AK offices or directly to IAAF.