ATHLETICS How Kenyan athlete Michael Saruni used a look-alike and jumped fences to dodge drug test

Former African indoor 800m record holder Michael Saruni was recently banned for four years after elaborate scheme to avoid drug test using a look-alike.

On 25th June 2022, during the trials for the World Athletics Championships and the Commonwealth Games Kenyan runner Michael Saruni orchestrated an elaborate scheme to evade drug testing, as revealed by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).

In a recent ruling by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) Saruni has been handed a four-year ban, with all his results from July 2022 invalidated due to his deceptive actions at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

According to ADAK's detailed account, Saruni resorted to drastic measures, including attempting to switch places with a look-alike, to dodge the testers' scrutiny.

Witnesses from ADAK testified to Saruni's elaborate ploy, highlighting how he tried to change his appearance and identity in a bid to avoid detection.

Karen Wairimu, an ADAK chaperone, recounted the events that unfolded after Saruni's race.

"I approached the athlete at 1424hrs and identified myself as a chaperone from ADAK... He acknowledged that he would comply with the process and requested that we go and collect his bag," she said.

Wairimu further described how Saruni changed his attire and claimed to have tested positive for COVID-19, attempting to use the excuse to avoid testing.

"He requested to leave his bag with his friend before he proceeds to the Doping Control Station (DCS). I acknowledged his request and walked to gate 20 where we waited for his friend at the entrance. Shortly after, two male individuals showed up and they started talking with Saruni. A few minutes later, another male individual joined us and he handed over his bag to the third individual," she added.

" At 1455hrs, we arrived at the DCS common entrance, and he started coughing persistently as he hurriedly made his way to the washroom which was just near the DCS main entrance. I followed him towards the washroom trying to catch up with him. He entered the male washroom which I followed him into, and saw him entering the first washroom stall which he locked while still coughing," she noted.

The situation escalated when Saruni attempted to switch places with a look-alike, identified as Dennis Mwangi.

Anthony Kamau, another chaperone, intervened, suspecting foul play.

"After entering the toilet, Karen informed me that the athlete by the name Michael Saruni had locked himself in the first toilet stall. She left the toilet after that. I could hear someone in the stall coughing and flushing the toilet. I requested for the stall door to be opened. A male individual stepped out wearing the same outfit as the person I saw rushing to the toilets. I notice however, that the individual did not look like an athlete who had just finished a race and was also not coughing.

" I called ADAK chaperone by the name Michael Omollo who was just outside the DCS. He came inside the washroom and I told him that the individual looked suspicious because we are looking for an athlete known as Michel Saruni as I confirm whether there might be someone else in the washroom. This would have allowed us to call Karen to identify Saruni if there was someone else in the stalls to the next one.

" As I was going back to the toilet stalls, I saw someone switching from the first stall to the next door. I followed the individual and found a male behind the door. He was wearing black hooded top and black trousers. I requested him to step out of the stall. I asked him to leave the washroom with me so that Karen can identify the athlete known as Saruni. He was in front of me as we left the washroom. As we approached the DCS, he immediately started running and jumped over a grilled perimeter wall. As he started running, I took out my mobile phone and took a picture of him as he was running away. I then went back to the DCS," he narrated.

In response to the allegations, the former African indoor 800m record holder Saruni vehemently denied intentionally evading the sample collection.

"I have been cooperating in submitting my sample since I became an athlete... I did not intentionally evade the sample collection after the race," he said.

Saruni further explained his interaction with Mwangi, stating that he had sent him money for upkeep and hotel bills.

 "One day after I finished my race, I looked for one Mr. Dennis Mwangi Mburu who had accompanied me to the stadium and was holding my money amounting to Kenya Shillings Seventy Thousand (Kshs. 70, 000) however, I could not locate him and I left to TRM as I was feeling tired. Later I learnt that Mr. Dennis Mwangi Mburu had been arrested I went back to Kasarani Stadium to pick my car and the money but could not get help as it was already late.

"The following morning, I went to the stadium to record my statement to that effect. I received a call from Mr. Dennis Mwangi Mburu informing me that he was mistakenly arrested by the ADAK officer thinking that it was me, I went down to the cells to record a statement to free him. I have never received any calls from the officers informing me that they needed me to submit samples for testing," he noted.

However, the Tribunal dismissed Saruni's defense, citing inconsistencies in his account and the lack of evidence to support his claims.

The transaction between Saruni and Mwangi was scrutinized, with the Tribunal questioning Saruni's actions following the alleged mix-up. 

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