Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-09 22:32:15
Kenya’s middle-distance runner, Michael Saruni, made headlines on June 25, 2022, during the Kenyan trials for the delayed 2021 World Athletics Championships and Commonwealth Games at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The 28-year-old, who holds the 600m indoor national record and reached the semi-finals in 800m during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, was involved in a dramatic event that ended in a four-year ban by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
The incident occurred when Saruni tried to evade doping control officers (DCO) after being summoned for testing. According to witnesses, Saruni used a series of dramatic moves, claiming he had tested positive for Covid-19 the previous week, changed his clothes, and even coughed persistently as he hurried to the restroom. However, he was ultimately identified and fled the scene, scaling over a grilled perimeter wall to escape.
The case was heard and determined by the Sports Dispute Tribunal panel, which included Elynah Sifuna-Shiveka (Chairperson) and members Njeri Onyango and Peter Ochieng. The witnesses presented evidence supporting the events that unfolded on that day. Karen Wairimu, an ADAK Chaperone, was assigned to notify Saruni of the need for a test, and she confirmed that he acknowledged the need for testing and even agreed to comply with the process.
However, once at the Doping Control Station (DCS), Saruni started coughing persistently and rushed to the restroom to evade the officials. Surveillance from the DCO and chaperones revealed that Saruni was trying to avoid being tested. Despite Saruni’s attempts to avoid identification, witnesses were able to ascertain his true identity and affirm that he was indeed evading the test.
The tribunal heard the case and dismissed Saruni’s defense, as it became evident that he had made prior plans to have someone impersonate him and provide a sample on his behalf. The SDT panel ultimately found that Saruni was sufficiently identified, especially since he was wearing a specific bib number during the trials, which he didn’t deny. This, combined with the evidence presented by the witnesses, led to his four-year ban from athletics.
In the aftermath of the incident, Saruni argued that he was never asked to provide a sample, and he claimed that ADAK officials had not used any official means to identify him and had never asked for his identification. However, his attempts to absolve himself of responsibility were undermined by the mounting evidence and witness testimony against him.
The dramatic sequence of events that unfolded during the Kenyan trials for athletic competitions serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness of anti-doping regulations and the consequences of attempting to evade testing. Saruni’s case highlights the ongoing efforts to maintain fairness and integrity in athletics through stringent anti-doping measures and enforcement.
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