Sumgong banned for eight years after appeal

Kenya's Jemima Jelagat Sumgong wipes her tears during the podium ceremony for the Women's Marathon during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Sambodromo in Rio de Janeiro on August 14, 2016 [Courtesy]

The running career of Olympic women marathon champion Jemimah Jelagat Sumgong appears to be all but over after the IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal slapped her with an eight-year ban from competition.

At 34, she will be eligible to compete again at 42, effectively ruling her out from returning to the apex of the sport, sealing the fall from grace of the runner who made history as the first Kenyan woman to win the marathon gold at Rio 2016.

“The IAAF Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Kenyan distance runner and reigning Olympic women’s marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong for eight-years starting 17 January 2019,” the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) posted on their Twitter handle yesterday.

“We welcome the decision of the Disciplinary Tribunal. We hope that it sends a message to dopers that the AIU has strong investigative capabilities and does not tolerate false evidence in doping cases,” it quoted the head of the doping control unit of the world athletics governing body, Brett Clothier saying.

Blood booster

The Sports Disputes Tribunal initially banned Sumgong for four years after being found guilty of using banned blood booster, rEPO in November 2017.

This came after she provisionally suspended from defending her London Marathon title on April 3, 2017 when her A-Sample tested positive for the banned blood booster following an out of competition test conducted on February 28, 2017.

However, AIU appealed the sentence, seeking an eight-year ban accusing the athlete of a second charge of lying to the local tribunal.

AIU gave Sumgong the option of either accepting a second charge of lying about her positive test and serve an additional four years ban or seek a hearing to contest the new allegations at their Disputes Tribunal.