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Kenyan athlete Lucy Mawia hit with three year ban for doping

Lucy Mawia, center, after a past race. Photo courtesy

By Terry Muriuki | Sunday, June 2, 2024

The cross-country star's results from recent competitions have been invalidated due to the detection of multiple prohibited substances.

Lucy Mawia has received a three-year ban from the Athletics Integrity Unity (AIU) due to the detection of three prohibited substances in her system.

Mawia, who is widely recognised for her exceptional skills in cross-country running, will regain her eligibility to participate in competitions starting on March 27, 2027. Unfortunately, her results from March 10 of this year will also be invalidated.

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Her results from the 5km Route de Lille and the Italian Cross-Country Championships have been invalidated, leading to their disqualification.

She achieved a fifth-place finish in the road race in France, followed by crossing the finish line in her cross-country race in Italy with a time of 27:50. It's worth noting that she participated in the race as an out of competition participant.

Mawia had previously been suspended by the Italian Anti-doping tribunal for doping. According to the Italian anti-doping agency, Mawia's sample tested positive for the substances Efedrina, Oxycodone, and its metabolite Oxymorphone. This compound is a metabolite of oxycodone that is produced through metabolism mediated by CYP2D6.

In 2022, she achieved a major milestone in her career by winning the prestigious World Cross Country Tour. She showcased an impressive performance at the beginning of the tour, emerging victorious in Bydgoszcz in October, followed by triumphs in Soria and Alcobendas in November.

Mawia started the 2023 cross-country campaign with an impressive third-place finish in Amorebieta and followed it up with a solid sixth place in Atapuerca. The champion of the 2023 15K Nocturna Valencia Banco Mediolanum also secured third place in Atapuerca in November and second place in San Vittore Olona in January of the same year.