Banned for years: did the Olympic semi-finalist put doppelgangers to the test?

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Kenyan middle-distance runner Michael Saruni (28) received a three-year ban for a doping violation. The reason for this is an incident that occurred on June 25, 2022 during the intra-Kenyan qualifiers for the World Athletics Championships. The runner had been temporarily banned since January 2023.

Strangely enough, the 800m specialist from East Africa did not test positive for a banned substance. Saruni is said to have tried to evade doping control with the help of a double.

According to witness statements, the athlete went to the toilets after the race. An official from the Kenya Anti-Doping Agency (ADAK) then noted that it was not Saruni himself who returned from the toilet. The semi-finalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games (2021) denies ever having been called for doping control.

Kenya has a doping problem

Unfortunately, this ban does not stand alone. Over the past five years, the ADAK has banned almost a hundred athletes. In addition to Saruni, 43 other athletes were affected on Tuesday alone. In October 2023, Titus Ekiru (32) was also convicted of doping – one of the fastest marathon runners in history. He had to return some trophies and prize money.

Source : Blick