Only ‘B’ sample can save celebrated Jeptoo from spending two years out in the cold

Things are no longer at ease among Kenya’s athletics fraternity following Rita Jeptoo’s failed doping test last week.

Jeptoo’s case must is a big blow to Kenya, following comments by Athletics Kenya top brass dismissing allegations of rampant doping among Kenyan athletes.

AK chiefs have often insisted that it was only little-known athletes who were engaged in the vice and that Kenya’s elite athletes were clean.

AK officials remained tight-lipped on Jeptoo’s case, only issuing a statement confirming the development after social media was awash with the bad news. AK said Jeptoo’s ‘A’ sample had tested positive for blood-boosting drug Erythropoietin (EPO). According to World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) guidelines, it is upon Jeptoo to provide her ‘B’ sample to confirm or refute results of the first test.

EPO can massively boost endurance and recovery times during high-volume marathon training.

REMAINS INNOCENT

She remains innocent until the result of tests on her “B” sample either exhonorate or convict her. Jeptoo, who made history by becoming the first athlete to win four events in the World Marathon Majors when she retained her Boston and Chicago Marathon titles, could be banned for up to two years if found guilty.

Kenyans have dominated road racing golbally for decades, setting records and winning huge sums in prize money. But coming on the eve of Sunday’s New York City Marathon, the sad news clouded Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany’s win.

AK knew of Jeptoo’s failed drug test by October 28 but waited for four days to confirm it. Things became worse after Jeptoo’s manager, Federico Rosa, claimed that he knew who was behind Jeptoo’s doping saga.

This week, Federico and Jeptoo’s coach, Claudio Berardelli, distanced themselves from Jeptoo’s doping case. Efforts to get comments from Federico proved futile as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered.

But who is to blame for the increasing cases of doping among Kenyan athletes? AK has failed to tame rogue foreign managers, agents, coaches and their local agents who are driving athletes to the edge to get quick money.

CASES INCREASING

AK has convened annual meetings with managers and coaches but doping cases seems to increase. At least 17 Kenyan athletes failed doping tests between 2012 and 2013, prompting a stern warning from Wada. But AK officials and top athletes ignored summons by the government’s anti-doping task force to shed light on the matter.

Jeptoo is the first top athlete to fail dope test since Matthew Kisorio two years. Kisorio completed his two-year ban in July this year. Both athletes are in Federico and Berardelli’s stable but Kisorio was sidelined after finishing his ban.

Besides Jeptoo and Kisorio, former World 400m champion Amantle Montsho from Botswana is another high-profile athlete from Federico’s stable to have tested positive to a banned substance during the Commonwealth Games. Others are Pamela Chepchumba (2003), Ronald Ruto (2012) and Raymond Tanui (2009).

MANAGERS KICKED OUT

But the AK is yet to act decissively and ban such managers, agents and coaches whose athletes test positive to banned substances. Years ago, some were kicked out but they found their way back into the country.

Other countries have done better. Last year, commissioners from the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission were forced to resign after admitting that some procedures carried out while collecting samples for testing were not consistent with Wada standards. Eight Jamaicans, including former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, failed doping tests.

The 2008 Olympics 800m champion Wilfred Bungei believes a big cartel is involved in Kenya’s doping cases and has called on the government to go beyond the anti-doping task force and investigate further.

Terming Jeptoo’s case unfortunate, Bungei said Kenyans have been known to be clean for over 50 years with some not even taking food supplements. “There are some drugs that are injectable like EPO and for sure one can’t take them unknowingly,” said Bungei.

“There is a cartel involved and it’s selfish thinking for an individual athlete who decides to cheat hence putting the whole nation to ridicule.”
Bungei said AK should get to the bottom of it and punitive measures instituted.

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya president Kipchoge Keino has urged AK to ban managers, coaches and agents found guilty.