Sumgong’s stable seeks to clear her name
Kenya’s Mary Keitany (centre) celebrates with the first place trophy alongside second-placed Jemima Sumgong (left) and third-placed Sara Moreira of Portugal during the presentation of the 2014 New York City Marathon on November 2. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Sumgong, runner up at the 2012 Boston Marathon, was slapped with a two-year suspension by AK on July 4, 2012, after post-race doping tests following her silver medal in Boston revealed that the runner’s sample contained the substance Prednisolone.
- Medical reports from the Istituto Clinico S. Anna in Brescia, Italy, on April 4, 2012, explained that Sumgong’s treatment for a hip injury required infiltrative therapy and administration of Depomedrol and Lidocaine, which contain Prednisolone, through local injection.
Athletics Kenya erred in imposing a two-year ban on Jemima Sumgong for an alleged doping violation, documents available to Daily Nation Sport reveal.
Sumgong, runner up at the 2012 Boston Marathon, was slapped with a two-year suspension by AK on July 4, 2012, after post-race doping tests following her silver medal in Boston revealed that the runner’s sample contained the substance Prednisolone.
However, medical reports from the Istituto Clinico S. Anna in Brescia, Italy, on April 4, 2012, explained that Sumgong’s treatment for a hip injury required infiltrative therapy and administration of Depomedrol and Lidocaine, which contain Prednisolone, through local injection.
It is on the basis of the Prednisolone found in the athlete’s sample, after she was treated on April 5 by Dr Lorenzo Benassa of Brescia’s Sportlife Medical Centre, that AK went ahead to ban Sumgong, a decision the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) later overturned.
“The Athletics Kenya Medical Commission met on 04.07.2012 and deliberated at length on the matter and found out that the medicine you declared had prohibited substances and as ignorance is no defence or excuse, the commission resolved that the period of your ineligibility shall be two years from 11.06.2012 and will end on 11.06.2014,” AK’s vice president David Okeyo, then secretary general, wrote to Sumgong on July 4, 2012.
SHOULD NOT HAVE SUSPENDED HER
But in a letter from the IAAF dated August 21, 2012, and made available to the Nation, the world athletics body’s anti-doping administrator Dr Gabriel Dolle says AK should not have suspended the athlete as they (IAAF) were satisfied with her medical report.
“I write to inform you that, upon review of the medical explanation submitted by Ms Sumgong Jelagat, the IAAF considers that there should not have been any sanction taken against the athlete,” Dolle says.
“The explanation provided by Ms Sumgong Jelagat clearly establishes, in our opinion, that she received a local (intrabursal) injection of prednisolone for medical condition duly diagnosed. According to 2012 Wada (World Anti-doping Agency) Prohibited List, glucocorticosteroids (including prednisolone) are not prohibited when administered locally.
“In addition, Ms Sumgong Jelagat duly declared the treatment on the doping control form on the day of the test. In light of the above, we would respectfully ask you to revise your decision and immediately terminate the disciplinary procedure against Ms Jelagat who cannot be regarded as having committed an anti-doping rule violation under IAAF Rules.”
