The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has handed Michael Kunyuga Njenga eight years doping ban for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (19-norandrosterone) which is a breach of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.
On 15 May 2022, Njenga was nabbed by AIU when he provided a urine Sample In-Competition at the Riga Marathon held in Riga, Latvia, where he finished in position five. His samples were taken to World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”) accredited laboratory in Dresden, Germany (the “Laboratory”) reported an Adverse Analytical Finding in the Sample based on the presence of 19-Norandrosterone (a Metabolite of Nandrolone (19-nortestosterone) or Nandrolone precursors) consistent with exogenous origin (the “Adverse Analytical Finding”).
Njenga used the banned substance Norandrosterone which is a product of nandrolone, an anabolic androgenic steroid known to accelerate muscle growth and recovery and was also found guilty of tampering or Attempted Tampering during the Results Management of the Presence/Use Anti-Doping Rule Violations, to be served consecutively).
Njenga who on 18 August 2022 provided his initial explanation for the Adverse Analytical Finding to the AIU, saying that he had experienced knee and back pain in 2021 and took pain killers which had an adverse effect on his stomach, so he stopped taking them.
Njenga further explained that, in January 2022, he had been advised to seek alternative medication for his knee pain because he could not manage his training load, so he went for a check-up at the Nyahururu County Referral Hospital and was prescribed with injections of Depomedrol every three months and he submitted two medical documents dated 18 January 2022 purporting to be from the Nyahururu County Referral Hospital, a Laboratory Request and Report Form, and a letter from a doctor at the Nyahururu County.
The AIU has banned Michael Njenga Kunyuga (Kenya) for 8 years, from 1 August 2022, for the Presence of a Prohibited Substance (19-norandrosterone); Use of a Prohibited Substance (Nandrolone or Nandrolone precursors); and Tampering. DQ results since 15 May 2022. pic.twitter.com/vqF9I5BKAl
— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) November 3, 2023
After intense investigation by AIU and Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) , Njenga was found guilty as he committed the violation of Rule 2.5 ADR in connection with the Doping Control Process (specifically during Results Management of the Adverse Analytical Finding) and therefore falls squarely within this provision. The violation of Rule 2.5 ADR shall therefore be treated as a stand-alone first violation and the four (4)-year period of Ineligibility for the Rule 2.5 ADR must be served consecutively to the four (4)-year period of Ineligibility imposed for the violations of Rule 2.1 ADR and Rule 2.2 ADR (i.e., a total period of Ineligibility of eight (8) years).
Njenga’s doping ban of eight years commences on 1 August 2022 (the date of Provisional Suspension); and disqualification of his results since and including 15 May 2022, with all results Consequences, including the forfeiture of any titles, awards, medals, points, prizes and appearance money.
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