July 10, (THEWILL) – Lawrence Cherono, a Kenyan marathon runner, has received a seven-year ban for breaking anti-doping rules. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), made this decision on Wednesday. Cherono, who won both the Boston and Chicago marathons, tested positive for trimetazidine in an out-of-competition sample.
The AIU gave Cherono a four-year ban for the doping violation. They added another four years for tampering or attempted tampering with the doping control. However, they reduced the total ban by one year because Cherono admitted to the violation and accepted the punishment.
Cherono was first suspended in July 2022 after his positive test. The AIU found that he did not have permission to use the banned substance. When questioned, Cherono first said a doctor had injected him with an unknown substance for stomach problems. Later, he changed his story and blamed a mix-up with his wife’s medicine.
The ban starts from July 16, 2022, the date of Cherono’s first suspension. This means Cherono will not be able to compete in professional marathons or other running events until 2029. This ban is a big blow to Cherono’s career, as he will miss out on several major competitions.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
