Former marathon world record holder banned for four years after giving fake-photo evidence for missed test

Former marathon world document holder Wilson Kipsang of Kenya has been handed a four-year ban for anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) that included utilizing a pretend photograph of a visitors accident to justify one among 4 missed whereabouts appointments, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) mentioned on Friday.

World Athletics mentioned Kipsang, a bronze medallist on the 2012 Olympics, had 4 whereabouts failures between April 2018 and May 2019. Three such failures inside 12 months results in an computerized ban.

Kipsang, 38, mentioned he missed a test on May 17, 2019 on account of a visitors accident involving an overturned lorry and likewise offered a photograph of the crash. However, the picture was discovered to be from an accident recorded on Aug. 19, 2019.

“The World Athletics Disciplinary Tribunal has banned long-distance runner Wilson Kipsang of Kenya for four years with effect from Jan. 10, 2020 for whereabouts failures and tampering by providing false evidence and witness testimony,” the AIU mentioned in a press release https://twitter.com/aiu_athletics/standing/1279037256221802497.

“The athlete engaged in fraudulent and deceitful conduct by providing deliberately misleading and false information to the AIU in an attempt to obstruct and delay the investigation into his explanation and/or prevent normal procedures from occurring, namely the recording of a Missed Test against him,” it added in its ruling.

Kipsang had been provisionally suspended in January. His aggressive outcomes from April 12, 2019 to Jan. 10, 2020 had been additionally disqualified. He has the correct to enchantment to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

His administration firm mentioned that “no prohibited substance was ever found” and confirmed they might research the choice and take into account an enchantment.

“We emphasize that there is no case of use of doping,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.

“The decision is not final and conclusive yet. Wilson has the opportunity to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

Tampering or tried tampering with any a part of doping management leads to a compulsory four-year ban.

The AIU mentioned the ADRVs dedicated by Kipsang had been handled as one single ADRV and the extra extreme sanction was imposed.

Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei mentioned it was very unhappy information.

“Athletes should learn from such consequences because these are the things that we keep talking about every day. And unfortunately we still continue getting these kinds of results,” he instructed Reuters.

“It affects everybody. It demoralises even ourselves. Why do they continue getting into that, particularly top athletes, elite athletes, who should be role models? … They are giving a bad example.”

Kipsang joins a listing of compatriots who’ve been sanctioned in recent times, together with 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 many international locations positioned on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA’s) compliance watch record in 2016.