Asbel Kiprop: Sample turned “positive” because I never gave out enough money

Three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop said he paid drugs testers because he “thought they wanted the money for fuel or tea”.

Asbel, who won 1500m gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, tested positive for EPO out of competition in 2017.

The 28-year-old Kenyan alleged his sample “turned positive” because he did not give the testers enough money.

“It is rare for them to ask for money. They didn’t specify the amount,” Asbel told BBC Sport.

Yesterday, Asbel maintained that he did not dope. “I suspect foul play. But I will wait for court’s decision. We will be in court in London on June 29,” Asbel told Standard Sports.

In May, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) rejected claims his sample was tampered with and that testers had asked him for money.

Asbel, who was tested on November 27, 2017 in Iten, had been told the previous night that doping control officers would be visiting.

Although that is against protocol, Asbel said he did not take it as “something serious” because it had happened before.

The AIU said Asbel’s sample was not tampered with but said it was “extremely disappointing” he was given advance notice of the test. He alleges a doping control officer - one of two present - asked for money before he had given a urine sample.

After supplying his sample, he left it unattended with the testers while he went to his bedroom to get his mobile phone, through which he paid them via electronic transfer.

“I have never violated the anti-doping rules or try to avoid the testers because I am sincere to myself and I support anti-doping,” said Asbel.

“I was so confident about my sample. I never even doubted myself... The minute I went into my room to send them the money, probably something happened there on the table to my urine sample.”

Asbel denies allegations of doping and said the last injection he had received was a yellow fever vaccination before the 2014 World Relays in the Bahamas.

He said he saw the tester as a “friend”, adding they regularly exchanged text messages before tests, and transferred the money because “it’s normal for generosity”.

After being told on February 3, 2018 that he had failed the test, Asbel said he texted the tester to ask why he had not visited to do any further tests since, but has never received a reply.

Asbel said his morale has been “killed” and that he is “suffering like a prisoner,” although he said he had received the support of team-mates and Olympic champions Vivian Cheruiyot and Eliud Kipchoge.

“It would have been better if I had indeed doped. So the expression could be fitting,” said Kiprop.

“I’m being put in the category of the dopers. Good people, athletes, my competitors and opponents, they think I have been racing with them and cheating.

“This thing has brought me down to zero.

“The truth will come out and it will clear my name, my image, and the sport as well.”

Dopers ‘should serve a jail term’ - the future

Kiprop, originally second in the 1500m final at the 2008 Olympics, was upgraded to gold when Bahrain’s Rashid Ramzi failed a drugs test.

He said he remains a fierce supporter of anti-doping, and “regrets” leaving his sample unattended with the testers.

“I am repeating what I said in 2015-16 when I said that doping should be criminalised in Kenya,” he said.

“Whoever is found guilty of committing a doping offence should not only be banned for four years but should also serve a jail term. I have always stood vocal in the fight against doping and I am still standing.

“I have not disgraced the IAAF. I have not disgraced the IOC. I have not disgraced my fans. I have not disgraced my father. I have not disgraced the people that made me who I am today and of course the sport in general.”