National-level sprinter Samuel Kimani Wanjiru has been banned from athletics for eight years after the Sports Disputes Tribunal found him guilty of multiple anti-doping violations, including the use of a prohibited substance and tampering with the doping control process.
The ruling, delivered on June 11, 2026, followed an investigation by the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK), which established that the athlete tested positive for Methasterone, a prohibited anabolic steroid, and later attempted to manipulate the results management process through falsified medical documentation.
According to ADAK, the case originated from an out-of-competition urine sample collected in Nyahururu on January 16, 2024. Analysis conducted at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited Karolinska University Hospital Laboratory in Sweden confirmed the presence of Methasterone and its metabolites.
The positive test triggered a wider investigation after authorities became suspicious of medical documents submitted in support of the athlete's case.
Investigators later uncovered what they described as a coordinated attempt to justify the positive result through fraudulent records and a retrospective Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) application.
Evidence presented before the Tribunal showed that Wanjiru had attached a prescription purportedly issued by Nyahururu County Referral Hospital. However, the athlete later admitted that he had never attended the facility.
Further investigations revealed that misleading information had been used in the preparation of the TUE documentation in an effort to legitimise the use of the banned substance.
The Tribunal concluded that the actions amounted to deliberate tampering intended to undermine the anti-doping process and mislead authorities.
As punishment, the Tribunal imposed a four-year ban following the presence and use of Methasterone, effective from July 2, 2024, to July 1, 2028. A further four-year suspension for tampering will run consecutively from July 2, 2028, to July 1, 2032, resulting in a total eight-year period of ineligibility.
In addition to the suspension, all of Wanjiru's competitive results from January 16, 2024, have been disqualified. The sanctions include the forfeiture of medals, titles, ranking points and prize money earned during that period.
ADAK welcomed the decision, saying it sends a strong message that both doping and attempts to manipulate anti-doping procedures will be met with firm sanctions.
The agency also noted that the case highlights the growing effectiveness of Kenya's anti-doping intelligence and investigations framework in detecting sophisticated efforts to evade accountability through fraudulent documentation.
ADAK urged athletes, support personnel and medical practitioners to strictly adhere to anti-doping regulations and verify all medications and treatments before use.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google