By Chris Chavez
November 3, 2023
2022 steeplechase world champion Norah Jeruto, who represents Kazakhstan internationally, has been cleared of a doping violation first reported by the AIU after a Disciplinary Tribunal determined, by a majority decision, that Jeruto’s unusual blood test results could be explained by legal circumstances. The suspension has been lifted immediately.
Here’s what you need to know:
– Jeruto was unable to defend her world championship gold medal in Budapest after being provisionally suspended in April. Her 8:53.02 winning time at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene was the third-fastest performance in history at the time. She did not compete at the Tokyo Olympics due to her allegiance switch from Kenya, which became effective in January 2022.
– She was suspended due to observed abnormalities in her Athlete Biological Passport in blood samples that were collected between June 2016 to May 2022. The ABP looks at an athlete’s blood data over time to catch any suspicious spikes and samples.
What were the issues in question?
– The AIU honed in on three sets of blood tests that showed signs of suspicious blood values. For the first set of tests, the AIU argued that the ABP results were “consistent with the use of a prohibited substance such as EPO, and thus maintained the charge of ‘Use.’”
– For the first and third set of tests, Jeruto’s team argued that abnormal results were because she suffers from bleeding ulcers. She has also been given medication to treat the ulcers.
From the report: “She had severe bleeding ulcers in March 2020. She had another bout of bleeding stomach ulcers in March 2021 as a result of an incredibly stressful period of her life.”
– The AIU was unable to prove the administration of blood or blood products in relation to these samples. The panel sided with Jeruto’s team.
– For the second set of tests, Jeruto’s team argued that she was battling a likely case of COVID-19.
Kevin Morris / @KevMoFoto
From the report: “In August 2020, she had a runny nose, dry cough, and pain in her chest. She did not feel like eating and had pain in her muscles all over her body. She could not taste any food and just drank liquids. She felt very weak and slept a lot and went to the hospital. She was told to take a medicine called Rhinathiol/Promethazine to help her lungs and make it easier for her to breathe. It was suggested it was possible she had COVID-19. In October, she got sores on her lips which became blistered. Her gums became swollen. The chemist gave her Zytee RB to treat her mouth sores.”
– Jeruto told the panel that she went to a hospital but was told that she did not have COVID and instead informed that she had tuberculosis. The Tribunal said there was “sufficient doubt” on this part of the case that it would be unfair to convict the athlete.
What happens next?
– The AIU has the right to appeal the decision by the Tribunal to the Swiss-based international Court of Arbitration in Sport within 30 days of the October 27th decision. The AIU announced today it is still reviewing the decision as it determines whether or not to appeal.
– UPDATE: On Dec. 5, the AIU announced it has appealed the decision made by the Disciplinary Tribunal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to challenge the decision that cleared Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto of not committing an anti-doping rule violation.
– In August, another AIU sanction of 2022 world 100m hurdles champ Tobi Amusan for whereabouts violations was overturned by a Disciplinary Tribunal. Amusan was cleared to compete at the 2023 World Championships, where she finished 6th in the 100m hurdles, but the AIU did decide to appeal to CAS and her case remains ongoing.
You can read the decision in full here.
Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and is an aspiring sub-five-minute miler.
