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The 29-year-old is the latest athlete on the growing list of shame as ADAK tightens the noose on drug cheats
Sierre Zinal marathon champion Esther Chesang has added to Kenya's growing list of shame after being handed a four-year doping ban by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
Her sanctions were announced after the Sports Disputes Tribunal concluded that she indeed tested positive for banned substance triamcinolone acetonide (glucocorticoid) during an earlier competition.
“Glucocorticoids/triamcinolone acetonide and its metabolite 6B-OHtriamcinolone acetonide which is listed under S9 of the 2022 WADA prohibited list is alleged to have been found in the respondent’s urine sample. This is a specified substance and is prohibited in-competition only as per WADA Prohibited List of 2022,” the tribunal said in its ruling.
“We have always said that athletes bear the ultimate responsibility to ensure that they understand the environment within which they operate and what doping is all about. These dictates are well captured in the Code.
“In the circumstances, the Tribunal imposes the following consequences: The period of ineligibility (non-participation in both local and international events) for the Respondent shall be for four years from the date of mandatory provisional suspension that is 11/05/2022.
“The disqualification of results in the event during which the ADRV occurred and in competitions after sample collections or commission of the ADRV with all resulting consequences including forfeiture of any medal, points and prizes.”
Chesang had been provisionally suspended early this year when she was among 20 sportsmen and women sanctioned for doping rules violation. This was after the change of the 2021 Anti-doping Code that now allows ADAK to release the names of those who violate anti-doping rules immediately.
The runner’s case had been the subject of embarrassment for organisers of the Sierre Zinal race. According to WADA, Chesang was tested upon arrival in Sierre-Zinal, Switzerland on Aug 13, 2022. Her negative result from that date was confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in October.
Although Chesang tested negative at the race, she had a previous positive test in May 2022. Theoretically, Chesang shouldn’t have been allowed to run Sierre Zinal, but since the positive test in May was not publicly communicated by ADAK, she received no sanctions and was cleared to run.
She won the race but the final ranking of the 2022 women’s race was suspended pending the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings. With everything confirmed, second-place finisher Maude Mathys from Valais, Switzerland, who finished 30 seconds after Chesang, will now be awarded the win and prize money.
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