The scientists were right. During the early 2000s, scientists tested Kenyan athletes to find out why and how these apparent superior athletes are better than everyone else in the world at middle and long-distance running. Other than an apparent, slightly different calf muscle, there was no difference found. Even the Kenyan athletes said to European and North Americans, that there is no difference. They said, “train harder, don’t use excuses.”
The scientists recommended living close to the earth; a simple lifestyle, at altitude, train hard, off-road and eat healthily. Neither party suggested doping, but it seems that Kenyan athletes have a serious doping culture. That is apparently, the difference between the Kenyan and everyone else, case in point two more athletes busted and banned.
Thomas Kibet Kutere
Thomas Kibet Kutere and Maurine Chepkemoi both from Kenya have been handed doping suspensions by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
On October 26, 2023, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Stockholm, Sweden reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in Kutere’s sample. The result is a positive test for the presence 19-Norandrosterone an anabolic steroid.
The AIU has banned Thomas Kibet Kutere (Kenya) for 3 years, from 3 November, 2023 for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Norandrosterone). DQ results from 10 September 2023
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) December 21, 2023
Details here: https://t.co/vh2XNqRihs pic.twitter.com/xI7rWflKyT
The AIU reviewed the Adverse Analytical Finding and determined that Kutere did not have a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the Norandrosterone found in the sample. Therefore, on Nov. 3, 2023, the AIU notified Kutere of the finding.
Over WhatsApp, he claimed to have used painkillers to treat a hamstring injury and that he was not aware that they contained a prohibited substance. However, on Dec. 14 Kutere admitted guilt so to get a reduced ban by one year.
The 27-year-old owns a best marathon time of 2:08:47.
Maurine Chepkemoi
On Dec. 1, 2023, WADA accredited laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the sample based on the presence of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO). The AIU reviewed the Adverse Analytical Finding and determined that Maurine Chepkemoi did not have a TUE for EPO.
She is banned for four years.
The 25-year-old holds a marathon best of 2:20:18 from the 2021 Amsterdam Marathon. Her marathon performances suddenly improved in 2021 against a much more modest career to that date over shorter distances.
