Olympian Kasait banned for doping

Lilian Kasait after a past event.[Courtesy]

Former World Under-18 champion over 3,000 metres, Lilian Kasait on Wednesday became the latest Kenyan to be banned for violating doping rules.

World Athletics' Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) disclosed that they have banned the 2017 World Cross Country bronze medalist for a period of 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.

"It resulted in an adverse analytical finding for Letrozole, which is prohibited at all times, which was potential anti-doping rule violations (ADRVS) pursuant to Rule 2.1 and Rule 2.2 of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules (ADR)," said AIU who notified the athlete of the violation on February 16 this year.

The former All African Games and national champion's suspension will run from April 2022 to February 2023 because of the fact that she admitted her guilt.

"Taking into consideration how promptly the athlete admitted the anti-doping rule violations upon notification... the parties agree that the period of ineligibility shall be backdated," the Athletics Integrity Unit said in a statement Kasait now joins a long list of close to 20 Kenyan athletes who have been banned or suspended for various doping offences this year.

This year, 2019 Boston and Chicago Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono was kicked out of Oregon before the men's marathon after failing a dope test.

Marathoners Philemon Kacheran, Stella Barsosio, Purity Changwony and 1,500 metres athlete Kumari Taki were also hounded out of the Commonwealth Games for the same reasons.