Daniel Wanjiru: I’m already seen as a sinner of doping, but I’m innocent

London Marathon - London - 23/4/17 Kenya's Daniel Wanjiru celebrates winning the men's elite race with the trophy. [Reuters / Matthew Childs/File Photo]

Former World Marathon champion Daniel Kinyua Wanjiru has vehemently denied committing a doping offence after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended him on Tuesday.

In a statement released by his management company Volare Sports, Wanjiru protested his innocence, adding that he has always stood for a clean sport.

Wanjiru said the suspension was frustrating but specialists had informed him that there are many reasons why his haemoglobin could be fluctuating.

 “This statement comes from the heart. I am clean in the sports I do. The ABP (athlete biological passport) finding is confusing and frustrating me.

“Specialists have informed me about how this can happen and I have come to realise there can be hundreds of reasons found why HB is fluctuating,” part of the statement read.

The 2017 London Marathon champion said he has been judged harshly without being allowed to prove his innocence.

“I feel I am already seen as a sinner of doping, but I am not. I am innocent.

“It’s very painful what’s happening to me now. I’ve always believed that those athletes who are suspended because of a doping violation, were indeed guilty of what they did.

“But I’ve realised that being charged with guilt is just easy and now proving to be unguilty is hard,” said Wanjiru.

Kenya's Daniel Wanjiru wins the Men's elite race at the London marathon on April 23, 2017, in London. Kenya's Daniel Wanjiru recorded the greatest win of his career on Sunday taking the London Marathon in an unofficial time of 2hrs 5min 48sec. [AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS]

The 27-year-old stressed that he has always stood for a fair and clean sport, saying investigations are underway. 

“I stand for clean sports. My results of the past came through hard work only. I have never used doping.

“We are currently investigating the case. Knowing I have never used anything, I have faith everything will be all right,” Wanjiru said.

The AIU confirmed on Tuesday that a charge had been issued against Daniel Kinyua Wanjiru for the use of a prohibited substance.

“The AIU has provisionally suspended marathon specialist Daniel Kinyua Wanjiru of Kenya with immediate effect for an Athlete Biological Passport violation under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules,” AIU posted on Twitter.

Under anti-doping rules, Wanjiru cannot participate in any competition until a hearing has taken place into the allegation.

The 27-year-old was also victorious in the 2016 Amsterdam Marathon.

He has finished eighth and 11th in the past two London marathons.

(L-R) Second-placed Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, winner Kenya's Daniel Wanjiru and third-placed Kenya's Bedan Karoki pose on the podium after the Men's elite race at the London marathon on April 23, 2017, in London. [AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS]

A provisional Suspension is when an athlete is suspended temporarily from participating in any competition or activity in athletics before a final decision at a hearing conducted under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct.

Former World Marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang and former World Under-20 champion Alfred Kipketer were both charged in January with breaking anti-doping rules.

Current Kenyan law stipulates a jail term of up to three years for support staff found guilty in connection with doping, but not for athletes.

From 2004 to August 2018, 138 Kenyan athletes tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, according to a WADA report published in September 2018.

With their high number of dopers, Kenya was placed under category A on the list of countries being watched together with Nigeria, Ethiopia, Bahrain, Morocco, Ukraine and Belarus.