Pneunonia medicine lands Kitwara in Doping dilemma

Former Valencia Marathon champion Sammy Kiprop Kitwara has been banned for 16 months after failing an in-competition doping control held in Seoul, South Korea in March 17.

Kitwara tested positive for Terbutaline, a prohibited substance unless an athlete has a Therapeutic Use Exemption permitting its use.

The Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU), the body established by word athletics governing body IAAF as part of its doping reform, said Kitwara had accepted and won’t appeal the ban that also means disqualification of the Athlete’s results on and since March 17.

“Taking into consideration the fact that the Athlete is relatively experienced and that there are no other mitigating factors, the AIU considers the Athlete’s subjective fault to be at the ‘high’ end of the ‘normal’ category.

“Given the Athlete’s timely admission of the violation after being confronted by the AIU, there is discretion…to back-date the start of the ban to the date of sample collection.

“The Athlete has accepted the above consequences for his Anti-Doping Rule Violations and has expressly waived his right to have those consequences determined by the Disciplinary Tribunal at a hearing,” the AIU said in a statement.

Kitwara was part of the team paced for Eliud Kipchoge when he set the World marathon record in Berlin last year.