On Wednesday, 2019 Boston Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono of Kenya was handed a seven-year doping ban for three anti-doping violations, including tampering with an ongoing investigation. Cherono was provisionally suspended in July 2022 ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, where he was set to represent his country in the men’s marathon.
The AIU has banned Lawrence Cherono (Kenya) for 7 years from 16 July 2022 for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Trimetazidine), Tampering or Attempted Tampering with any part of Doping Control. DQ results from 23 May 2022
Details here: https://t.co/jTdIJLKxpv pic.twitter.com/F8hy3y2eDJ— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) July 10, 2024
In a statement, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) said the marathoner was guilty of an additional charge of tampering to mislead investigations into his positive test for the banned stimulant trimetazidine. According to the report, Cherono made false statements and produced fraudulent medical documents to explain his positive test.
The two-time Abbott World Marathon Major champion, who has a personal best of 2:03:04, presented what he claimed was his wife’s prescription for trimetazidine, which he took, thinking it to be a simple painkiller. The AIU’s report indicated that its investigation into Cherono’s wife’s medical records at the medical centre—via a court order—revealed that she had never sought treatment at the facility.
Cherono is the 12th fastest men’s marathoner in history and the seventh fastest Kenyan. His last race was the Boston Marathon in April 2022, where he clocked 2:07:21 to finish second to his compatriot Evans Chebet, who won the race in 2:06:51. He finished fourth in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon.
Cherono’s Boston Marathon second-place finish in 2022 and 2019 victory will remain on the books.
According to the report, Cherono has accepted the ban, waiving his rights for an appeal. The 35-year-old will not be eligible to compete again until July 2029.
