In July 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Rodgers Ondaji Gesabwa after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cocaine.
Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete accepted the test result and filed a statement in his defence.
The Athlete explained that in May 2024 in the hotel in Lima, Peru, at breakfast he most likely had consumed coca tea, which was accessible to all hotel guests.
After investigations the AIU accepted that the coca tea in the hotel in Lima was the source of the positive test. As a result the AIU deems that ingestion of coca tea occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance.
Thereupon in October 2024 the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. He also signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.
Therefore the AIU decides on 9 October 2024 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 10 July 2024.
