Doping: Wilson Kipsang digging in for a fight with World Athletics
Athletics
By
Waweru Titus
| Jul 04, 2020
Former World marathon recorder holder Wilson Kipsang’s management, Volare Sports, has announced it will appeal the ban issued to their athlete on Friday.
Kipsang was handed a four-year ban for anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) that included using a fake photo of a traffic accident to justify one of four missed whereabouts appointments, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said.
Volare Sports said it had been informed of the decision of the World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal in the case between Wilson and World Athletics. The Disciplinary Tribunal found Wilson guilty of violating the anti-doping rules.
“In January 2020 World Athletics accused Wilson of alleged Whereabouts Failures (article 2.4) and alleged (attempted) tampering (article 2.5). The Disciplinary Tribunal found Wilson guilty of violation of both,” Volare Sports said in a Facebook post.
Kipsang’s management said the two-time London Marathon winner will appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“The decision is not final and conclusive yet. Wilson has the opportunity to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“We will study and analyse the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal and consider the further legal steps. Pending this process we will not communicate anything more about it,” said Volare Sports.
The management emphasised that there is no case of use of doping and no prohibited substance was ever found.
“Volare Sports and Wilson strongly believe in a clean sport and support anti-doping measures for a 100%. The accusation regarding alleged/attempted tampering (article 2.5) concerned an explanation that was given in the results management process regarding a possible Whereabouts Failure and did not concern tampering with a doping test itself,” read the post.
Kipsang joins a list of popular Kenyan athletes who have been sanctioned in recent years, including 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, former Boston and Chicago Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo and 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong.
Kipsang’s ban came a day after the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) charged Florence Jepkosgei Chepsoi with the offence of presenting false documents to the agency as defence against an anti-doping rule violation.
Jepkosgei was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Eldoret on Monday and charged under section 42 (1) paragraph (e) of the Anti-Doping Act.
The athlete pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. The case will be heard on August 13, 2020.
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.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said last week they will pass legislation to criminalise doping offences.
During a meeting with veteran athletes, CS Mohamed said that they were working closely with ADAK to present the document to Parliament for debate.
If the Bill is passed, offenders will serve jail terms as the country intensifies its fight against the vice.
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.