In July 2022 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported and anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Lawrence Cherono after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Trimetazidine.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete responded and filed a statement in his defence.
The Athlete initially alleged that he had stomach problems and that a doctor had given him erythromycin and an injection with an unknown substance. However the AIU did not accept this explanation.
In August 2022 the Athlete explained that in May 2022 his wife inadvertently had provided him a Carvidon tablet instead of a painkiller for his muscle pain. He submitted medical documents issued by the Wayside Medical Centre about his wife's condition and the prescribed medications, including the Carvidon tablets.
The AIU determined that there were several inconsistencies in the Athlete's explanations about his wife's alleged medical treatments in May 2022. Therefore the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) conducted for the AIU an investigation into his explanations and supporting medical documents.
In December 2022 ADAK's investigation revealed that the filed medical documents from the clinic were falsifications. Thereupon between December 2022 and March 2024 further investigations conducted by the AIU and ADAK were obstructed, delayed and undermined by the clinic and the Athlete.
After a Court Order in April 2024 the clinic finally cooperated and stated that there were no records available about any medical treatment given to the Athlete's wife. The clinic confirmed that the medical documents in question were falsifications produced by unauthorised persons.
Consequently in June 2024 the AIU reported two anti-doping rule violations against the Athlete for:
- presence of a prohibited substance; and
- tampering with any part of the doping control.
After notification of these charges the Athlete gave a timely admission and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. The AIU deems that the Athlete had failed to demonstrate that these two violations were not intentional, nor exceptional circumstances for a reduced sanction.
Because the Athlete had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form he received a 1 year reduction from the AIU. The Athlete must serve the imposed two sanctions consecutively.
Therefore the AIU decides on 2 July 2024 to impose a 7 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 16 July 2022.
