Marathon Champion Lawrence Cherono Receives 7-Year Ban for Doping and Tampering

In a stunning fall from grace, Lawrence Cherono, the 2019 Boston and Chicago Marathon winner and former world No.1 over 26.2 miles, has been handed a seven-year ban after admitting to three anti-doping rule violations, including tampering. The 35-year-old Kenyan marathoner, who boasts a personal best of 2:03:04 and ranks 12th on the world all-time list, was initially suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in 2022 after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine during an out-of-competition test.

Cherono's case, which has been under investigation for two years, reached its conclusion on June 26, 2024, when he admitted to the violations in a signed letter to the AIU. He received a four-year ban for the positive test and an additional four years for tampering with the investigation. However, due to his admission, the ban was reduced by one year.

The scandal unfolded when Cherono claimed that he had inadvertently ingested Trimetazidine, mistaking it for painkillers, which his wife had given him to treat muscle pain after training on May 22, 2022. According to Cherono, his wife had been prescribed the medication four days earlier at a medical centre. He provided supporting documents, including a laboratory request and photos of the medication, to back up his story. However, further investigations by the AIU and the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) revealed inconsistencies in his explanation.

This dramatic turn of events marks a significant blow to Cherono's career, which saw him not only claim victories in Boston and Chicago but also in Seville, Valencia, Prague, Honolulu, and Amsterdam. The AIU's decision underscores the ongoing battle against doping in sports, aiming to maintain integrity and fairness in athletics.

As the athletics community grapples with this revelation, Cherono's ban serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of doping and the importance of adhering to anti-doping regulations. 

“This decision is testament to the tireless and persistent efforts of the AIU in investigating doping and the explanations provided for positive tests,” said AIU Head, Brett Clothier. “Since its inception, the AIU has remained steadfast in its commitment to clean sport, and this decision sends a strong signal to drug cheats that the AIU will leave no stone unturned in carrying out its mandate.”