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The former javelin world champion read malice in the statement announcing the athlete’s punishment
Former javelin world champion Julius Yego has expressed his disappointment at Kenya being linked to suspended reigning women’s steeplechase world champion Norah Jeruto.
Kenyan-born Kazakhstani Jeruto was provisionally suspended for an Athlete Biological Passport violation, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Friday.
Last summer, Jeruto, 27, became the first athlete representing Kazakhstan to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, clocking 8:53.02 in the final in Eugene to set a championship record and move to third on the world all-time list.
Jeruto previously represented Kenya at junior level between 2011 and 2015, before winning gold on her senior debut at the 2016 Africa Athletics Championships, but switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in 2022.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Norah Jeruto (Kenya/Kazakhstan) for the use of a Prohibited Substance/Method (ABP),” the AIU said in its statement while announcing the suspension.
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16:45 - 07.04.2023
ATHLETICS Kenyan-born Kazakhstani suspended for doping
She was a gold medallist in the 3000m steeple chase during the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Given the alleged doping violation happened while she was representing her adopted country, Yego reads malice in AIU’s inclusion of Kenya in the statement announcing the runner’s suspension.
“Norah Jeruto is Kazakhstan (sic) citizen but Kenyan born! So, dragging Kenyan (sic) name because of her positive doping test is an illegality and disrespect to Kenya,” said Yego via a twitter post. “When she won in Oregon, Kenyan name didn’t appear on her glorification! Why now! AIU Athletics it’s wrong.”
Yego is perhaps mindful of the already soiled reputation of Kenyan athletes on the doping front with the country still in Category A on the list of nations on watch for anti-doping violations following several cases of cheating.
Close to 60 Kenyan runners have been suspended for various doping violations over the last one year with AIU recently accusing a section of the country’s medics for helping athletes cheat.
If Jeruto’s suspension is upheld, she could be stripped of her world title with silver medalist Werkuha Getachew of Ethiopia, who had never raced in steeplechase before December 2021, elevated to gold, with bronze medalist Mekides Abebe in line for silver and Winfred Yavi, who placed fourth, in line for bronze.
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