Kenyan Marathon Star Daniel Wanjiru Banned For 4 years

Former London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru has been banned for four years for anti-doping rule violations.

World Athletics said it was highly likely that Wanjiru used prohibited substances citing abnormalities in his biological passport.

The 28-year-old won the London Marathon in 2017 beating Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele who finished second.

The Athletics Integrity Unit statement said a blood test from March 9, 2019, showed an “extraordinarily high” haemoglobin level.

“Besides the violation of ABP individual haemoglobin (HB) and off score limit, the HB value recorded in sample 14 (19.4 g/l) is extra-ordinary high for a healthy young man. In this context, the extreme, abrupt and transitory increase of HB from 17.4 in sample 13 to 19.4 g/l in sample 14 does not have a pathological explanation.

“Even in the case, a change of this inordinate rapidity and amplitude, and in such direction has neither any physiological explanation, the absence of a severe and certified medical condition associated with loss of a large amount of blood,” said the experts while presenting their evidence to the tribunal.

A statement released by his management company Volare Sports said no substance was found on Wanjiru’s samples.

“We are very disappointed about this decision,” the company said. “We emphasize that no prohibited substance has ever been found and we strongly believe that Daniel is innocent.”

Wanjiru joins a list of compatriots who have been sanctioned in recent years, including former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang, 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, former Boston and Chicago Marathon winner Rita Jeptoo and 2016 Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong.

Kenya was among the countries placed on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA’s) compliance watch list in 2016.