Sumgong’s ban upheld: Ectopic pregnancy excuse dismissed by Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya

Kenya's Jemima Jelagat Sumgong celebrates winning the women's marathon during in Rio

Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) has confirmed the suspension of the Rio Olympics Marathon winner Jemima Sumgong after testing positive for Erythropoietin (EPO) in an out-of-competition test by the IAAF in April this year.

A panel by Sports Disputes Tribunal chairman John Ohaga, Robert Asembo and Mary Kimani concluded its finding last week upholding ADAK’s ban of four years despite the 32-year old alleging that the EPO substances found in her urine sample in the no-notice test conducted by IAAF officials was due to an ectopic pregnancy she suffered.

The 2015 London Marathon champion had said she visited Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on February 23 after suffering from bleeding and received blood transfusion, but failed to name the doctor who treated her.

However, KNH dismissed her allegation, saying such a delicate condition requires that a patient be admitted in the hospital for a period of at least four days for observation and records be kept.

KNH said the documents Sumgong provided were not authentic since the hospital has a documentation system for handling the patients.

The hospital further noted that EPO found in her urine sample cannot be explained as treatment for ectopic pregnancy which is not a procedure for managing such conditions.

“Ectopic pregnancy is a taboo in my community and that is why I did not tell my coach who is also my husband,” Sumgong said in her defence.

While giving the ruling, the Tribunal found that the athlete did not prove on the balance of probability how the prohibited substance entered her body or the origin of the prohibited substance.

The panel noted the athlete did not declare the treatment information on the DCF (doping control form) despite the alleged treatment having been administered less than 7 days prior to the sample collection.

In 2012, Sumgong produced a urine sample containing the banned substance prednisolone at the Boston Marathon and was banned for two years but later lifted by Athletics Kenya after IAAF intervened.