Athletics Kenya shocked by Sumgong’s drugs test fail

Marathoner Jemima Sumgong displaying the Olympic gold medal when she returned to a heroine’s welcome on Friday night from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 7 – Athletics Kenya has confirmed the receipt of a copy from IAAF notifying them of an anti-doping rule violation against Kenya’s Olympic women’s marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong, who failed an out-of-competition dope test, reports claimed Friday.

Athletics Kenya (AK) through a statement expressed their disappointment and shock, declaring that they are awaiting full information on the matter to determine the next cause of action.

“The information contained in the notification and also carried in the press, if true, is extremely shocking and disappointing not only to Athletics Kenya but to the entire Nation of Kenya. Consequently, we are unable to make any further comments in regard to the matter at this point. We shall however issue a full and comprehensive statement once the process is complete and IAAF has confirmed that the matter may be made public,” AK stated in a statement.

“In the meantime, Athletics Kenya frowns and condemns in the strongest terms any case of anti-doping rule violation whether in Kenya or elsewhere in the world. Athletics Kenya, in conjunction with the Government of Kenya, Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya and other concerned bodies have worked and continue to work tirelessly to put in place measures to fight and eradicate the use and abuse of prohibited substances.”

AK called on all athletes in the country to familiarize themselves with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list of substances and to firmly desist from the use and attempted use of any prohibited substance.

“Athletes are further notified that in addition to sanctions which may be imposed by the IAAF for anyone found guilty of anti-doping violations, they will face the full force of the law within the existing framework of the laws of Kenya.”

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