Rita Jeptoo's former coach, five others charged with doping

Athletics coach Claudio Berardelli was yesterday charged with administering a banned performance-enhancing drug to marathoner Rita Jeptoo Busienei.

Berardelli, 36, was charged along with Stephen Kiplangat Tanui alias Kalya, a pharmacist in Kapsabet town, and Daniel Cheribo Kiplangat for conspiring to injure the athlete’s profession by administering Erythropoietin.

The trio denied five counts before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Mutuku.

The prosecution had asked for more time to investigate before Berardelli, Tanui and Kiplangat could be formally charged. The magistrate directed the accused to deposit a Sh200,000 cash bail to secure their freedom.

“In light of the charges the accused persons are facing, the court will grant them bail since the prosecution is not opposed but they should attend court whenever required,” Ms Mutuku said.

The prosecution said Berardelli, Tanui and Kiplangat committed the offence on diverse dates between August and September 2014 in Kapsabet town, Nandi County. The three denied the charge.

Berardelli, Tanui and Kiplangat also denied that on the same dates in Kapsabet town, they conspired to prevent Ms Jeptoo from the lawful exercise of her athletics profession.

Tanui faced a separate charge of operating a pharmacy without a licence from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. The court was told that on July 14, 2016, in Kapsabet town, he was found to have been operating the pharmacy unlawfully.

“On July 14 in Kapsabet town you were found to have a business of a pharmacy in a premise where no name and certificate of registration of the person having control of the business was conspicuously exhibited,” read the charge.

State Counsel Duncan Ondimu said the State did not intend to oppose the three from being granted bail as long as they gave an undertaking that they would attend the trial set for October 25.

“The prosecution has already lined up three witnesses to testify in the case once trial begins. The accused persons will be informed about more witnesses who will also testify in the case at a later stage,” Mr Ondimu said.

Yesterday, Berardelli’s lawyer, Julius Kemboy, said his client was innocent and should be granted bail pending hearing and determination of the case.

“My client came to court voluntarily and has not indicated that he is likely to abscond. I plead with the court to release him on lenient bond terms,” Mr Kemboy submitted.

Separately in the same court, Samson Kiprotich alias Talei, Ken Kipchumba Limo and Joseph Karuri Mwangi were charged with promoting the use of prohibited substances. They denied that between January and February this year, in Eldoret town, jointly with others who were not in court, they conspired to use St Luke’s Orthopaedic and Trauma Hospital and unlawfully promoted the use of prohibited substances among athletes.

The magistrate directed each to deposit Sh 50,000 cash bail pending trial on October 26.

Berardelli, an Italian national, was arrested on July 5 and remanded until July 12, when he was released on Sh200,000 bail. He was then ordered by Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo to deposit his passport in court and appear on July 18 for further directions.

Jeptoo is a three-time Boston marathon winner (2006, 2013 and 2014). The 35-year-old athlete won the Chicago Marathon in 2013 and 2014. She was, however, banned by Athletics Kenya in January 2015 for two years after she failed a drug test. Her ban ends in October this year.