Another Kenyan marathoner banned for 3 years for doping

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on Monday banned Kenya's marathoner Philemon Kacheran Lokedi for three years.

The ban which takes effect from July 8 this year was confirmed by the world integrity body after the Valencia Marathon bronze medalist was found culpable of using a Prohibited Substance, Testosterone.

Kacheran was initially suspended in July, just before the Commonwealth Games where he was set to lead Kenya's team in Birmingham.

On 27 April, the 30-year-old athlete provided a urine sample Out-Of-Competition in Kapenguria. On 1 July, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland (the Laboratory) reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the Sample for the presence of Testosterone and its Metabolites2 consistent with exogenous origin (the Adverse Analytical Finding).

After reviewing the Adverse Analytical Finding, AIU determined that Kacheran did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) that had been granted (or that would be granted) for the Testosterone and its metabolites found in the Sample.

AIU confirmed that the Kenyan admitted the violation and returned a signed Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form confirming the same in September, an action that saw him receive a one-year reduction in the asserted period of Ineligibility pursuant to Rule 10.8.1 based on early admission and acceptance of sanction.

The AIU has banned Kenya's Philemon Kacheran Lokedi for 3 years from 8 July 2022 for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone) (Article 2.1 and Article 2.2).

Details here: https://t.co/8zc0kmx1mM pic.twitter.com/YmrCbqiW3q

- Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) October 10, 2022

"On the basis that the Athlete has admitted the Anti-Doping Rule Violations, the AIU confirms the athlete is suspended for a period of Ineligibility of three (3) years commencing on July 82022 (the date of Provisional Suspension) and disqualification of the Athlete's results since April 27, with all resulting consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points prizes and appearance money," said a statement by AIU.

Kacheran now joins a growing list of close to 20 Kenyan athletes who have been banned or suspended for various doping offenses in 2022. Felix Kipchumba Korir and Emmanuel Saina were banned for three years starting September 9 for using a prohibited substance, Norandrosterone.

African Games 5,000 meters champion Lilian Kasait was also banned for 10 months starting April this year.

The Olympic athlete who finished 12th in the 5,000 meters final at last year's Tokyo Games - was found to have used the hormone therapy drug Letrozole.