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The 30-year-old has been out for two years but will be eligible to compete again starting Tuesday, August 1
Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno cannot wait to return to the track with his two-year doping bad ending on Monday night.
Otieno will be eligible to compete again from Tuesday August 1, having been suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit due to the presence of prohibited substance Methasterone in his system.
Otieno’s ban was backdated to July 31, 2021 but he is now just counting hours before he resumes his sprints career.
“In less than 12 hours, I will be eligible to compete again. Mine is a story of God’s faithfulness and Mercies. I’m ready,” Otieno posted on his Facebook story on Monday.
Otieno was banned just moments before he was due to compete in the 100m heats at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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14:23 - 21.07.2023
ATHLETICS Mark Otieno reveals future plans as two year-ban nears conclusion
The sprinter is targeting a place in Kenya's Olympics team when his suspension ends this month
He was one of Kenya’s most promising sprinters before the rise of Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala.
Prior to his ban, Otieno had represented the country at the 2017, 2019, and 2021 World Relays.
He was also part of the team that represented Kenya at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia and the 2017 World Championships in London.
The 30-year-old was also part of Team Kenya at the 2015 All-Africa Games and the 2016 and 2019 African Championships.
The 2023 World Championships, which takes place in Budapest, Hungary in August, will come too late for the sprinter but he has enough time to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Otieno’s ban was originally scheduled to run until 2024, but after a successful appeal, it was reduced to two years.
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08:43 - 23.06.2023
ATHLETICS Greatest Kenyan athletes to fail the doping test
Africa's fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala and two-time world champion Asbel Kiprop are among the athletes.
If he returns to form, then he will likely give Omanyala a run for his money, a good thing for Kenya as the country will have options in the 100m race.
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